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Faith, Love & Devotion #5
Truth & Tenderness
Newly promoted police captain Evan Cerelli takes command of his own precinct as Matt Haight’s security business begins to expand at a rapid rate. Both of their careers require more and more of their time—away from home and each other. When his most famous clients, Daisy and Bennett Ames, suffer a traumatic breakup, Matt is drawn into a dangerous and dramatic situation. With attentions diverted, Evan and Matt's tight-knit home life begins to unravel.
As Griffin Drake’s movie nears final edit, his thoughts turn toward building a home with his new fiancé, Jim Shea—and maybe even starting a family. Before he can think of a new family, Jim is caught up in his past. The possibility of putting Tripp Ingersoll in jail once and for all beckons, and Jim wants the closure that has long eluded him. As a new lead spurs him on, Jim begins to lose sight of the future by chasing an old ghost.
Both couples struggle to remember that "happily ever after" requires hard work, trust, and tender, open hearts.
As Griffin Drake’s movie nears final edit, his thoughts turn toward building a home with his new fiancé, Jim Shea—and maybe even starting a family. Before he can think of a new family, Jim is caught up in his past. The possibility of putting Tripp Ingersoll in jail once and for all beckons, and Jim wants the closure that has long eluded him. As a new lead spurs him on, Jim begins to lose sight of the future by chasing an old ghost.
Both couples struggle to remember that "happily ever after" requires hard work, trust, and tender, open hearts.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2015
39 people are currently reading
903 people want to read
About the author
Tere Michaels
40 books1,024 followersTere Michaels unofficially began her writing career at the age of four when she learned that people got paid to write stories. It seemed the most perfect and logical job in the world and after that, her path was never in question. (The romance writer part was written in the stars—she was born on Valentine’s Day.)
It took thirty-six years of “research” and “life experience” and well… life… before her first book was published but there are no regrets (she doesn’t believe in them). Along the way, she had some interesting jobs in television, animation, arts education, PR, and a national magazine—but she never stopped believing she would eventually earn her living writing stories about love.
Her home base is a small town in New Jersey, very near NYC, a city she dearly loves. She shares her life with her husband, her son—who is also her personal trainer—and an exceedingly spoiled cat. Her spare time is spent watching way too much sports programming, going to the movies and for long walks/runs in the park, reading, and doing yoga.
Nothing makes her happier than knowing she made a reader laugh or smile or cry. It’s the purpose of sharing her work with people. She loves hearing from fans and fellow writers and is always available for speaking engagements, visits, and workshops. Send her a message through her contact page or connect with her on Instagram (@TereMichaels) and Facebook.
She teaches regularly at SavvyAuthors, as well as running a private consulting and developmental editing business.
It took thirty-six years of “research” and “life experience” and well… life… before her first book was published but there are no regrets (she doesn’t believe in them). Along the way, she had some interesting jobs in television, animation, arts education, PR, and a national magazine—but she never stopped believing she would eventually earn her living writing stories about love.
Her home base is a small town in New Jersey, very near NYC, a city she dearly loves. She shares her life with her husband, her son—who is also her personal trainer—and an exceedingly spoiled cat. Her spare time is spent watching way too much sports programming, going to the movies and for long walks/runs in the park, reading, and doing yoga.
Nothing makes her happier than knowing she made a reader laugh or smile or cry. It’s the purpose of sharing her work with people. She loves hearing from fans and fellow writers and is always available for speaking engagements, visits, and workshops. Send her a message through her contact page or connect with her on Instagram (@TereMichaels) and Facebook.
She teaches regularly at SavvyAuthors, as well as running a private consulting and developmental editing business.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
November 26, 2018
**11/15/18 - Time for a reread!! Just picked up the audiobook to get ready for the release of Book 7 next month! This is one of my favorite series and I'm sooooo looking forward to spending some time with Evan, Matt, Jim, and Griffin again! ♥ ♥ ♥
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***4.75 Stars***
Well fuck....this book put me through the emotional ringer at times....but HOT DAMN did it give me the most satisfying and heartwarming conclusion and epilogue for two amazing couples! Evan & Matt and Jim & Griffin own a piece of my heart! I absolutely love and adore them.
What we have here, in the final book of the series, is two couples at different stages of their relationship, different stages of their lives together, dealing with the hurdles and obstacles that appear in everyday life. The circumstances may be fiction, but the relatability to the issues is not.
Evan and Matt have been together for years now and though their bond is stronger than ever, old ghosts, insecurities and bad habits rear their ugly head to finally push the couple to take stock of what matters. They must take a look at their lives, which have fallen into a comfortable routine, and fully realize what it takes to be a true partnership. Where does their happiness and contentment truly lie?
"We can do this."
And that was it - that was what Evan hung on to. They wanted to do this, fought for it even when they were fighting each other.
Jim and Griffin are finally taking the plunge and getting married and, dare say, thinking about having kids. Living a crazed lifestyle over the past few years, both men are finally ready to lay down roots and build a home, family and future together. But Jim's obsession with the unresolved issues of the Tripp Ingersoll case won't let him go. He can't move on until he's buried the demon in his past. Jim's need to close the case puts everything he loves at risk...his friends, his home, his career....Griffin. But without that door shut, he's not sure he can find peace and walk through the door to his future.
These couples melted, broke and mended my heart with their love, honesty and conviction in making their relationships work. Each couple had obstacles to overcome and the angst was delicious...but what made it so much more emotional is that you saw, and firmly believed and felt, that no obstacle would be bigger than the love they have for each other.
Don't get me wrong, this wasn't some overly heavy and emotional read...there are plenty of lighthearted moments to balance out the drama in the book. Matt's sarcastic and snarky humor matched well with anyone he shared a scene with....especially Jim. Their bromance had me laughing out loud plenty of times. Also, any time a character could poke fun at simple Jim and his OCD about cleanliness and neatness was a winner for me.
"If I let him plan the wedding, it would be a barbeque with beer balls and a sheet cake, and the wedding favor would be Wet-Naps."
"I love everything about that sentence," Matt said.
The added storyline involving Tripp Ingersoll had me at the edge of my seat with suspense. I was trying to unravel the clues as much as Jim. I'm happy with the way the author resolved the matter. She could have easily gone the OTT route, but instead she kept it simple and real.
The only reason I couldn't give this a full five stars is because I didn't understand the inclusion of the Daisy and Bennett drama? They went from top of the heap to bottom of the barrel for no well explained reason. I didn't understand Bennett's actions and I feel that if their situation was going to be a subplot, then it should have been better developed, because by the end it fell to the wayside and was resolved with a couple of sentences just to tie up loose ends.
This is definitely a favorite series of mine and I highly recommend it to everyone and anyone who truly loves romance and loves seeing characters fight for what they want. Each book is filled to the brim with romance, humor, friendship, family and love. What more could you want?
If you haven't discovered the beauty and overall fabulousness that is this series....what are you waiting for? Do it! And no need to thank me afterwards....I'll just say my piece now...
February 7, 2017
I'm so gonna miss Matt & Evan. It took me almost one and a half years to finish their last book. I used to tell myself that the reason why I kept pushing it to the side is the fact that Matt and Evan had reached their HEA already and watching a happy couple be happy isn't the most exciting read. Besides, I never grew very fond of Jim and Griffin and their story. Yeah. So the book rested on my 'to be finished later' pile.
Now I finished it and I'm in tears, mainly because it seems that this is really everyone's HEA. I think I first read 'Faith & Fidelity' in 2013 and quickly declared the series to be my favorite m/m series. Having read many other books since then, however, I am now considering this series my favorite 'vanilla romance' m/m series, LOL. Because let's face it, Matt and Evan are the masters of vanilla romance.
And Matt, when your partner brings you roses to say he's sorry, you say 'Thank you!' and make up, not bitch about flowers not being a way to apologize!!
I absolutely adored the rainbow family theme that is woven through all books. Matt Haight and Evan Cerelli meet after the tragic death of Evan's wife. Both guys are in their late 30s/early 40s. Evan has teenaged kids that he needs to take care of and it was right from the start that Matt wasn't just Evan's lover, but also Evan's kids' step-father, which created LOTS of problems and friction within the family, as the kids were surprised that their father was replacing their dead mother with a man.
I totally LOVED the dramatic aspect of this story.
Over several books, Matt and Evan work through their issues (and new ones that get thrown at their feet) and it simply touched my heart how they grew through them all, despite their demanding jobs (Evan is a cop and later even a captain for the NYPD, Matt is a former cop who moves on to become a self-employed security specialist). They are two absolutely average working parents trying to make their relationship work and keep their family happy.
The second half of the series revolves around Jim Shea and Griffin Drake - and their story is the COMPLETE opposite to Matt & Evan's. Jim (who is Matt's one night stand from a period when Evan broke up with him) is a detective at the Seattle PD. He's a trust fund baby and only works because he wants to help people. He is working on a murder case against a guy named Tripp Ingersoll who has a watertight alibi, even though Jim KNOWS the guy is a killer.
Oh, and Jim is a tidiness freak. Like seriously. You could do open heart surgery on his kitchen floor.
Griffin Drake is a Hollywood screen writer who is compiling a movie script for an upcoming film about the Ingersoll case. He wants to get his art right by interviewing the people involved in the case. Among others, he meets Jim - and they fall in love. Long story short: Griffin wants to settle down and have a baby and marry and he thinks Jim is just the right guy.
Jim is a seasoned, rough guy in his 40s (who reminds me quite a lot of Matt, actually), while Griffin is a glass wearing nerd in his late 20s. Speaking of differences. Somehow I never really understood their relationship and felt that Jim would at some point tire of Griffin, but apparently he didn't.
Also, Jim and Griffin and their story line provided a bit of drama for Matt and Evan's world, which would otherwise only consist of household chores ;-)
So all in all, both Matt and Evan and Jim and Griffin belong together in this awesome series, and make a great bunch of friends.
Concerning their wider circle of friends, I didn't really like Daisy (the Hollywood starlet turning into a loving mother and wife) nor Bennett (the bisexual producer millionaire who throws money around like crazy and claims to have found eternal love with Daisy while hanging out with handsome Hollywood guys. We know how that went...), but I absolutely loved Evan's friend Helena (best female side character in a m/m series).
This feels like discussing a soap opera, LOL.
Anyway, I am literally in tears over having finished one of my favorite romance series.
P.S.: Thank you Viv, for letting me know about Tere Michael's Christmas short 'Felicitous' that she sent out in a newsletter in December.
This short isn't listed officially on GR, so I'll just add the review to this review!
BECAUSE I LOVED IT!!! OMG, it was exactly the type of closure that was missing for Matt and Evan in book 6!
Definitely 5 stars!!
November 22, 2017
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Better, but not a lot*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Why do I feel like there could be coming more books? And why do I feel like Jim Shea and his fiancé Griffin Drake got a more closed ending than newly promoted police captain of Midtown South Evan Cerelli (38?) and former cop turned security consultant and a househusband Matthew ‘Matt’ ‘Matty’ Haight (49?)? I literally don't care for Jim and Griffin, and I skipped their parts, so it bothered me a lot that they got more in this book than Matt and Evan. I did like that Evan got a bit better, that Matt is finally getting a little closer to what he deserves, but I don't think we're there yet. Overall, I really hope this was the last book in the series, yet I'm not satisfied with the ending, so...
“Taking away our careers isn’t going to solve the problem,” Matt said sadly. “We’ll find other ways to hurt each other. That’s what happens.”
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series, Book Six.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Matthew ‘Matt’ ‘Matty’ Haight
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2 stars.
May 14, 2015
WHAT?!
Are you Flippin kidding me...you better not be playin with me!
Mat & Evan were the first guys I had the pleasure of reading. I am BEYOND EFF'N EXCITED for this book!
===================================
*thoughts soon!*
Are you Flippin kidding me...you better not be playin with me!
Mat & Evan were the first guys I had the pleasure of reading. I am BEYOND EFF'N EXCITED for this book!
===================================
*thoughts soon!*
May 21, 2015
Thank God for that Happy ending!...
...Because the story was stressful from the middle to the end. A lot of clusterfuck happened AT THE SAME TIME. It almost feels like drowning and I want a breather from the story at times.
Another thing, there were a lot of rehashing of relationship issues from the previous books that made me a little annoyed. Aren't they over it already? It made Casper's entry to the story welcome even though he's such a dick. Lol! XD
Again, like Cherish & Blessed, I liked Jim & Griffin, and the rest of the cast. But Evan & Matt is still my favorite couple in this universe. They're just awesome and I would want to have a stable relationship like them.
Overall, even though it has a really bright ending for one of our couples (hehe, I'm not gonna tell who!), I'm not a fan of the middle part.
3.5 STARS. (Rounded down)
my Blessed review
...Because the story was stressful from the middle to the end. A lot of clusterfuck happened AT THE SAME TIME. It almost feels like drowning and I want a breather from the story at times.
Another thing, there were a lot of rehashing of relationship issues from the previous books that made me a little annoyed. Aren't they over it already? It made Casper's entry to the story welcome even though he's such a dick. Lol! XD
Again, like Cherish & Blessed, I liked Jim & Griffin, and the rest of the cast. But Evan & Matt is still my favorite couple in this universe. They're just awesome and I would want to have a stable relationship like them.
Overall, even though it has a really bright ending for one of our couples (hehe, I'm not gonna tell who!), I'm not a fan of the middle part.
3.5 STARS. (Rounded down)
my Blessed review
May 7, 2015
3.5 stars.
This sixth book started off with the official ceremony of the newly promoted Captain Evan Cerelli. All the usual suspects were present including a pleasant Miranda with her boyfriend Kent. It was a festive event, but it quickly became evident that Evan’s new position would impinge on his boyfriend Matt Haight’s ability to be devote adequate time to his security business. The more Evan’s time and attention was required at his office, the more Evan reverts back to old habits off dumping on his home partner and assuming that Matt would just suspend whatever projects he was involved with. While Matt enjoyed taking care of the children, being taken for granted began to chafe and Matt wasn’t okay with his needs and wants getting relegated to the backburner.
Meanwhile Griffin Drake and Jim Shea were making preparations to get married and Griffin was finishing a movie when their best friend Daisy came running to them for comfort. Daisy and Bennett were having major relationship woes and Daisy need time to figure out what she wanted. Daisy brought her daughter to live with Griffin and Jim while that led to Matt is drawn into the Daisy-Bennett drama. When Matt leaves for LA work, but didn’t to return home or take Evan’s calls. While Matt is trying to deal with his resentment at Evan for taking him for granted, Evan and the kids are distraught because they are worried he won’t come back. Evan had to weigh his priorities and decide if it was even possible to balance the career he wanted with the family life he craved. Matt also had to assess what he was willing to sacrifice in order to be with Evan and the Cerelli children. That was the most emotional part of the book for me because it is clear Evan and Matt love each other so much. What I hated was that as soon as I got into Matt and Evan’s struggle for a balanced life, we got dragged back into the Jim, Griffin and Daisy show. It ruined the continuity of the emotional flow of the story.
I have never connected with Jim and Griffin, nor Daisy and Bennett. I was hoping the author would give them their own book so I could avoid them, but she keeps intertwining their story with Matt and Evan to my utter dismay. Evan and Matt are really all I care about, so to have Griffin, Jim, Daisy and Bennett monopolize this book with their drama really diminished my enjoyment. Matt and Evan are dealing with an issue many dual-income couples face as far as managing couple and family time with and respect of each other’s careers. I wanted the author to really delve more into how they were going to sacrifice to meet in at a comfortable median. Just as things progressed between Evan and Matt, the author cut to a commercial break (those other people). It was frustrating.
The Matt and Evan journey is always a 5-star for me. They are my favorite couple after Ty and Zane but I fear that I have reached my limit. I am not interested in continuing the series if the couples are intertwined like this again because I just don't want to read about Jim & Griffin nor Daisy & Bennett. I have never cared for them and I won't share Evan Cerelli and Matt Haight with them any longer.
*Special thanks to Dreamspinner for the advanced reading copy.
This sixth book started off with the official ceremony of the newly promoted Captain Evan Cerelli. All the usual suspects were present including a pleasant Miranda with her boyfriend Kent. It was a festive event, but it quickly became evident that Evan’s new position would impinge on his boyfriend Matt Haight’s ability to be devote adequate time to his security business. The more Evan’s time and attention was required at his office, the more Evan reverts back to old habits off dumping on his home partner and assuming that Matt would just suspend whatever projects he was involved with. While Matt enjoyed taking care of the children, being taken for granted began to chafe and Matt wasn’t okay with his needs and wants getting relegated to the backburner.
Meanwhile Griffin Drake and Jim Shea were making preparations to get married and Griffin was finishing a movie when their best friend Daisy came running to them for comfort. Daisy and Bennett were having major relationship woes and Daisy need time to figure out what she wanted. Daisy brought her daughter to live with Griffin and Jim while that led to Matt is drawn into the Daisy-Bennett drama. When Matt leaves for LA work, but didn’t to return home or take Evan’s calls. While Matt is trying to deal with his resentment at Evan for taking him for granted, Evan and the kids are distraught because they are worried he won’t come back. Evan had to weigh his priorities and decide if it was even possible to balance the career he wanted with the family life he craved. Matt also had to assess what he was willing to sacrifice in order to be with Evan and the Cerelli children. That was the most emotional part of the book for me because it is clear Evan and Matt love each other so much. What I hated was that as soon as I got into Matt and Evan’s struggle for a balanced life, we got dragged back into the Jim, Griffin and Daisy show. It ruined the continuity of the emotional flow of the story.
I have never connected with Jim and Griffin, nor Daisy and Bennett. I was hoping the author would give them their own book so I could avoid them, but she keeps intertwining their story with Matt and Evan to my utter dismay. Evan and Matt are really all I care about, so to have Griffin, Jim, Daisy and Bennett monopolize this book with their drama really diminished my enjoyment. Matt and Evan are dealing with an issue many dual-income couples face as far as managing couple and family time with and respect of each other’s careers. I wanted the author to really delve more into how they were going to sacrifice to meet in at a comfortable median. Just as things progressed between Evan and Matt, the author cut to a commercial break (those other people). It was frustrating.
The Matt and Evan journey is always a 5-star for me. They are my favorite couple after Ty and Zane but I fear that I have reached my limit. I am not interested in continuing the series if the couples are intertwined like this again because I just don't want to read about Jim & Griffin nor Daisy & Bennett. I have never cared for them and I won't share Evan Cerelli and Matt Haight with them any longer.
*Special thanks to Dreamspinner for the advanced reading copy.
May 7, 2015
This story features two of my very favorite men - Matt and Evan from Faith & Fidelity. It also features Griffin and Jim, and a host of secondary characters. Having four main POVs perhaps strained my ability to really fall into the book and empathize with the characters. I found myself a little more detached from this one compared to the first three books, not quite as breathless when lives and relationships are threatened. This remains one of my favorite series, but it felt like the effort to wrap up two couples' complicated lives in one book forced too much relationship and action plot together into one space.
I was particularly disappointed with one aspect. Significant spoiler: Still, I'm otherwise happy with where this left the guys and their families, and enjoyed the read.
I was particularly disappointed with one aspect. Significant spoiler: Still, I'm otherwise happy with where this left the guys and their families, and enjoyed the read.
January 6, 2017
5 stars!
Evan and Matt are one of my all time favorite m/m couples. I started the series when I was still quite new to the m/m romance genre and I have to admit that I immediately fell in love with them. Their love story wasn’t easy and sugary - they had to face real life problems and I was so happy to see their relationship evolve into something strong and stable.
I enjoyed reading about gay men with kids in their lives and Evan and Matt’s family was totally perfect with all their ups and downs. It felt so credible and I saw myself liking all the secondary characters – even if they weren’t always easy to like.
It’s always difficult to pick up the last installment of a series you love and I therefore waited a long time before I finally went for it. And I am so happy that I did. The plot of this last installment was very intriguing, but the author managed to write an interesting story without putting the relationship between Matt and Evan at the side line.
I don’t want to get into the plot, there are quite a few reviews out there doing a good job in this regard. I just want to recommend this series to all m/m romance lovers out there. It has been a fabulous read and I’m pretty sure that I will one day read the whole series again.
Matt and Evan left a lasting impression!
Evan and Matt are one of my all time favorite m/m couples. I started the series when I was still quite new to the m/m romance genre and I have to admit that I immediately fell in love with them. Their love story wasn’t easy and sugary - they had to face real life problems and I was so happy to see their relationship evolve into something strong and stable.
I enjoyed reading about gay men with kids in their lives and Evan and Matt’s family was totally perfect with all their ups and downs. It felt so credible and I saw myself liking all the secondary characters – even if they weren’t always easy to like.
It’s always difficult to pick up the last installment of a series you love and I therefore waited a long time before I finally went for it. And I am so happy that I did. The plot of this last installment was very intriguing, but the author managed to write an interesting story without putting the relationship between Matt and Evan at the side line.
I don’t want to get into the plot, there are quite a few reviews out there doing a good job in this regard. I just want to recommend this series to all m/m romance lovers out there. It has been a fabulous read and I’m pretty sure that I will one day read the whole series again.
Matt and Evan left a lasting impression!
March 7, 2016
3.5 stars
It wasn't easy getting there but Matt and Evan and Jim and Griffin seem to finally get their relationships fully sorted out here. If you've read Cherish & Blessed, which set up this final book, it shouldn't be a surprise that both couples are the focus of this story, since Jim is now a partner in Matt's security business and living in New York.
Evan is still not sure he made the right choice in accepting his promotion and as work intensifies, he falls back onto old behaviors spending less time at home and expecting Matt, whose security business is doing very well, to just drop what he is doing to handle the kids. Matt isn't willing to accept Evan's behavior and it causes a rift between the two men. Meanwhile Jim is still obsessing over the Tripp Ingersoll case resulting in his pulling away and lying to Griffin, who starts to question whether Jim is ready to get married and if they both want the same thing from the future. On top of all of this the four men are drawn into Daisy and Bennett's marital problems.
I was happy to have more of Matt and Evan, but I have to say I was unexpectedly sad for a lot of this story. There is jealousy and a lot of fighting between Evan and Matt. Even after their years together, whenever it seems Evan is making strides in accepting his relationship with Matt, something happens to make him pull back again and shades of Book 1 Evan resurface. He never seems completely comfortable with his love for Matt and even as happy as they are at the end, I'm pretty certain that it will happen again down the road. Jim and Griffin's issues were completely different and by the end of their story I was 100 percent certain of their happiness.
There are very brief appearances by Shane and Helena and the kids, but mostly it focused strictly on the two couples. I loved how it ends in the Epilogue for Matt and Evan with one question .
It wasn't easy getting there but Matt and Evan and Jim and Griffin seem to finally get their relationships fully sorted out here. If you've read Cherish & Blessed, which set up this final book, it shouldn't be a surprise that both couples are the focus of this story, since Jim is now a partner in Matt's security business and living in New York.
Evan is still not sure he made the right choice in accepting his promotion and as work intensifies, he falls back onto old behaviors spending less time at home and expecting Matt, whose security business is doing very well, to just drop what he is doing to handle the kids. Matt isn't willing to accept Evan's behavior and it causes a rift between the two men. Meanwhile Jim is still obsessing over the Tripp Ingersoll case resulting in his pulling away and lying to Griffin, who starts to question whether Jim is ready to get married and if they both want the same thing from the future. On top of all of this the four men are drawn into Daisy and Bennett's marital problems.
I was happy to have more of Matt and Evan, but I have to say I was unexpectedly sad for a lot of this story. There is jealousy and a lot of fighting between Evan and Matt. Even after their years together, whenever it seems Evan is making strides in accepting his relationship with Matt, something happens to make him pull back again and shades of Book 1 Evan resurface. He never seems completely comfortable with his love for Matt and even as happy as they are at the end, I'm pretty certain that it will happen again down the road. Jim and Griffin's issues were completely different and by the end of their story I was 100 percent certain of their happiness.
There are very brief appearances by Shane and Helena and the kids, but mostly it focused strictly on the two couples. I loved how it ends in the Epilogue for Matt and Evan with one question .
November 28, 2025
Truth & Tenderness by Tere Michaels
Faith, Love & Devotion series #5. M-M romance. Best read in series order.
Changing jobs and responsibilities add to the drama of Evan, Matt, Griffin and Jim’s lives as they balance work, life and family. Two couples fight to keep their relationships strong. The background is there. The love is there. It’s daily life that keeps throwing in complications.
This story is best read in print for the changing couples and extended family and friends.
Strong emotional angst as daily life overrides romance. Hea.
3.5
Faith, Love & Devotion series #5. M-M romance. Best read in series order.
Changing jobs and responsibilities add to the drama of Evan, Matt, Griffin and Jim’s lives as they balance work, life and family. Two couples fight to keep their relationships strong. The background is there. The love is there. It’s daily life that keeps throwing in complications.
This story is best read in print for the changing couples and extended family and friends.
Strong emotional angst as daily life overrides romance. Hea.
3.5
May 1, 2015
This just made me sad. I'm really sorry to say this because I love tere michaels.
Spoilers!!!!!!!!!
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This was Jim and Griffins story, not Matt and evans. That disappointed me because Matt and Evan was who I fell in love with. There were constant arguments and the chemistry wasn't there so it was depressing.70% of the time Matt and Evan weren't even in the same place. it also was left open ended....thought this was the last book. There was a love scene and half between Matt and evan. There was a lot of potential, but I'm just sooo disappointed.
Spoilers!!!!!!!!!
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This was Jim and Griffins story, not Matt and evans. That disappointed me because Matt and Evan was who I fell in love with. There were constant arguments and the chemistry wasn't there so it was depressing.70% of the time Matt and Evan weren't even in the same place. it also was left open ended....thought this was the last book. There was a love scene and half between Matt and evan. There was a lot of potential, but I'm just sooo disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2015
3 stars and only for Matt and Evan. I was sorely tempted to remove another star for the inadequacies in this book. Heed the warnings from the other reviews, Evan and Matt have to share time with Griffin and Jim, whose portions I skimmed. I'm disappointed that we had to re-hash old issues with Matt and Evan again, and even more so that there wasn't enough time devoted to their reconciliations. It felt like a re-tread of issues that were dealt with and handled in previous books, and there was obviously a little smudging about sex that had already occurred in Cherish.
I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I was most disappointed that she took a couple I really loved (Matt and Evan) and made them both so frustrating in this book. Some people seem to be on Matt's side of the issues, but I don't understand why Evan had to be made out to be the "bad" guy this go around again and why he had to grovel so spectacularly to get Matt to come around. I've always loved Matt because he was a carefree kind of fella. He wasn't the type to be angry and stubborn when the other party was so obviously contrite. I'll leave it to rest there as I don't want to get into spoilers.
Overall, I felt this book feel woefully short of giving us a resounding closure to Matt and Evan's relationship. Things felt so disjointed for them and the book was spread so thin because of Griffin/Jim and Daisy/Bennett. I wouldn't have minded all the squabbling Matt and Evan had this time around if we had been given an even measure of peaceful bonding/lovin' between the two. I especially didn't care for the secretive way she went about Matt and Evan's . The whole series has always revolved around Evan and Matt being a family, and a secret like that should have been shared with their family. I'm glad they got a HEA at very least, but a big part of me felt that they deserved more in this final conclusion.
I'm going to sound like a broken record, but I was most disappointed that she took a couple I really loved (Matt and Evan) and made them both so frustrating in this book. Some people seem to be on Matt's side of the issues, but I don't understand why Evan had to be made out to be the "bad" guy this go around again and why he had to grovel so spectacularly to get Matt to come around. I've always loved Matt because he was a carefree kind of fella. He wasn't the type to be angry and stubborn when the other party was so obviously contrite. I'll leave it to rest there as I don't want to get into spoilers.
Overall, I felt this book feel woefully short of giving us a resounding closure to Matt and Evan's relationship. Things felt so disjointed for them and the book was spread so thin because of Griffin/Jim and Daisy/Bennett. I wouldn't have minded all the squabbling Matt and Evan had this time around if we had been given an even measure of peaceful bonding/lovin' between the two. I especially didn't care for the secretive way she went about Matt and Evan's . The whole series has always revolved around Evan and Matt being a family, and a secret like that should have been shared with their family. I'm glad they got a HEA at very least, but a big part of me felt that they deserved more in this final conclusion.
May 18, 2015
Possible spoilers.
I started this series about a week ago, and had planned to review all in one go. But sadly, I'm at a loss...To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. I thought Matt and Evan had made progression in the last book, and I was really looking forward to their next transition in this book to only be dragged back to the very beginning! I almost DNF but I had to continue (in vain), as I've invested (literally - books are pricey!) so much in these characters.
I wasn't expecting a candy floss of a story but I also wasn't expecting to feel 70-80% disappointed either! You know when you've read stories that leave a stamp in your heart, and your mind would remember the storyline word for word, that you just want to go back and reread time and time again? This series won't be one of them.
To be quiet frank, this story was a pointless one and I feel the author simply wanted to pocket money.
I started this series about a week ago, and had planned to review all in one go. But sadly, I'm at a loss...To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. I thought Matt and Evan had made progression in the last book, and I was really looking forward to their next transition in this book to only be dragged back to the very beginning! I almost DNF but I had to continue (in vain), as I've invested (literally - books are pricey!) so much in these characters.
I wasn't expecting a candy floss of a story but I also wasn't expecting to feel 70-80% disappointed either! You know when you've read stories that leave a stamp in your heart, and your mind would remember the storyline word for word, that you just want to go back and reread time and time again? This series won't be one of them.
To be quiet frank, this story was a pointless one and I feel the author simply wanted to pocket money.
May 5, 2015
To sum up this book (and the entire series really), there was a wild tornado and at the end we had pie. Good pie - and cake.
It's no secret that I'm here for Matt and Evan, which leads to a lot of speed reading through the Jim/Griff chapters. I love the web of friendships between the main characters but I still wish Matt and Evan had gotten their own book.
Overall, Truth & Tenderness really should have been named Truth, Tears & Tenderness because my god did everything take a nose dive for a while there. It took a while for the tenderness to kick in, but when it did, it was wonderful.
Matt Haight is a gem. He deserves to be the First Lady of NY.
It's no secret that I'm here for Matt and Evan, which leads to a lot of speed reading through the Jim/Griff chapters. I love the web of friendships between the main characters but I still wish Matt and Evan had gotten their own book.
Overall, Truth & Tenderness really should have been named Truth, Tears & Tenderness because my god did everything take a nose dive for a while there. It took a while for the tenderness to kick in, but when it did, it was wonderful.
Matt Haight is a gem. He deserves to be the First Lady of NY.
April 25, 2021
1. I love this book.
2. I still irrationally dislike Griffin. I wish there were less of him in this book. I love Jim interacting with Matt, but he and Griffin--I just powered through it when it got physical.
3. Is this really the end?
2. I still irrationally dislike Griffin. I wish there were less of him in this book. I love Jim interacting with Matt, but he and Griffin--I just powered through it when it got physical.
3. Is this really the end?
September 10, 2019
Finally, we get a full novel after the short stories from the previous book.
As the final book of the series back during 2015, I was slightly let down by this installation.
There are actually two sub-plots in this story, with one belonging to each featured couple. The concepts of the plot were something that could have been developed into something intense and captivating, however both stories didn't quite deliver for me.
Matt and Evan finally hit a bump in their relationship after so many years again, triggered by certain changes in their careers. The angst and drama seemed to be building up nicely, and it created an opportunity for an emotional or breathtaking scene to reconcile our couple. I need to commend that at long last, we get a proper sex scene again with Matt and Evan! However, I still thought the scenes and buildup in the first book was much better written. It was also a little weird that
Jim and Griffin's plot took a bigger share of the spotlight in this book, with Jim's unrelenting obsession with his old police case of Tripp Ingersoll. A large portion of the story was moving too slowly for me and it was difficult to sustain my interest. Near the end, the mysteries are slowly unravelled, where tension started to build up. However, rather than the crescendo we were anticipating, the conclusion to the plot was somewhat anticlimactic.
For the supposed ending of a series, it was disappointing because certain areas like Griffin's movie was never touched on, despite him spending so much time on it. Jim and Griffin's
As the majority of the readers (including myself) are more inclined to favour reading about Matt and Evan more than Griffin and Jim, the ending of the story doesn't feel like it did justice to the HEA of Matt and Evan. I thought the readers deserved a little more than this. Thankfully there's still a next book to salvage this, and hopefully it delivers!
Four Stars!
As the final book of the series back during 2015, I was slightly let down by this installation.
There are actually two sub-plots in this story, with one belonging to each featured couple. The concepts of the plot were something that could have been developed into something intense and captivating, however both stories didn't quite deliver for me.
Matt and Evan finally hit a bump in their relationship after so many years again, triggered by certain changes in their careers. The angst and drama seemed to be building up nicely, and it created an opportunity for an emotional or breathtaking scene to reconcile our couple. I need to commend that at long last, we get a proper sex scene again with Matt and Evan! However, I still thought the scenes and buildup in the first book was much better written. It was also a little weird that
Jim and Griffin's plot took a bigger share of the spotlight in this book, with Jim's unrelenting obsession with his old police case of Tripp Ingersoll. A large portion of the story was moving too slowly for me and it was difficult to sustain my interest. Near the end, the mysteries are slowly unravelled, where tension started to build up. However, rather than the crescendo we were anticipating, the conclusion to the plot was somewhat anticlimactic.
For the supposed ending of a series, it was disappointing because certain areas like Griffin's movie was never touched on, despite him spending so much time on it. Jim and Griffin's
As the majority of the readers (including myself) are more inclined to favour reading about Matt and Evan more than Griffin and Jim, the ending of the story doesn't feel like it did justice to the HEA of Matt and Evan. I thought the readers deserved a little more than this. Thankfully there's still a next book to salvage this, and hopefully it delivers!
Four Stars!
May 7, 2024
I love Matt and Evan. These two characters are what made this series for me. I didn't care for Jim and Griffin's story when that came about in the series. I also understood why it needed to be told, though. I do enjoy seeing all of their friendships.
However, I really didn't enjoy their portion of this story. I fell like the whole Jim/Tripp storyline was overdone and I honestly didn't care for it. It reminded me of all the things I didn't like about Jim the first time around. Then you have the Daisy/Bennett storyline, which made it much worse. I didn't like Daisy the first time around either, lol.
But Matt and Evan, I'm here for them all day long. I wanted more of them. I wanted this whole book to be about them, because I love them together.
However, I really didn't enjoy their portion of this story. I fell like the whole Jim/Tripp storyline was overdone and I honestly didn't care for it. It reminded me of all the things I didn't like about Jim the first time around. Then you have the Daisy/Bennett storyline, which made it much worse. I didn't like Daisy the first time around either, lol.
But Matt and Evan, I'm here for them all day long. I wanted more of them. I wanted this whole book to be about them, because I love them together.
December 18, 2019
2.5
Mis dos grandes problemas fueron:
- No hay mucho Griffin.
- Daisy. Ella no me agradaba pero no creo que se mereciera la historia que le dieron.
Mis dos grandes problemas fueron:
- No hay mucho Griffin.
- Daisy. Ella no me agradaba pero no creo que se mereciera la historia que le dieron.
October 1, 2016
Ehhhhhh....I really, really wanted to love this book. I really did. After having been completely bowled over by the ultra-romantic "Faith & Fidelity", and "Duty & Devotion", and liking very well the original stand-alone "Cherish", I was completely ready to fall in love with this last book in the series. Instead, I find myself curiously dissatisfied and mildly frustrated. Too much Jim and Griffin and too little Evan and Matt. Far too little. Tere Michaels' writing is still of a very high standard, still lyrical in feeling, her words striking just the right pitch. But if the pitch is right, then why does the key of all of Book Six sound so off to me?
I'll say why. As far as Haight and Cerelli are concerned, Tere Michaels' pen has fallen almost silent. Matt and Evan are no longer speaking to the author with the same passionate urgency that made them so captivating at the very beginning. Their voices have become diffuse, almost dissipating into the background, as the more strident voices of Griffin and Jim, and Daisy and Sadie come to the fore. They're pleasing enough characters, they're amiable enough, but for me, they don't capture my heart with the same, addictive romantic ardour that Matt and Evan did.
This series of books to my mind is at heart, a romance story. Tere Michaels seems to have lost sight of this as her plot meanders into situations and characters who hold very little interest for me. Her talent for storytelling seems to have been dulled a little by this last book. I have to concede that I hold her to a very high standard of story telling because this is a standard set by Tere Michaels herself in Book One and Book Three.
If I could be granted one more wish for this series, I would wish that the macho-muses of Matt and Evan descend on Tere Michaels and impose themselves on her again; that they urge her to tell their very own Happy Ever After. Not as an addendum to an epilogue of some other couple's story, but their own story. I would wish to see them see all the children off to college and on their own, I would wish to see them rework their lives as empty nesters, to see Evan grown into his own as an out, well-adjusted law enforcement professional and leader, a real man comfortable in his own skin. I would wish to see Matt come to a warm and expansive peace with Miranda, and for him to grow into his role as the steadying, challenging, protective influence in Evan's life. And yes, I would wish to see them throw their Big Fat Queens Cop Wedding, before we all finally say goodbye.
I'll say why. As far as Haight and Cerelli are concerned, Tere Michaels' pen has fallen almost silent. Matt and Evan are no longer speaking to the author with the same passionate urgency that made them so captivating at the very beginning. Their voices have become diffuse, almost dissipating into the background, as the more strident voices of Griffin and Jim, and Daisy and Sadie come to the fore. They're pleasing enough characters, they're amiable enough, but for me, they don't capture my heart with the same, addictive romantic ardour that Matt and Evan did.
This series of books to my mind is at heart, a romance story. Tere Michaels seems to have lost sight of this as her plot meanders into situations and characters who hold very little interest for me. Her talent for storytelling seems to have been dulled a little by this last book. I have to concede that I hold her to a very high standard of story telling because this is a standard set by Tere Michaels herself in Book One and Book Three.
If I could be granted one more wish for this series, I would wish that the macho-muses of Matt and Evan descend on Tere Michaels and impose themselves on her again; that they urge her to tell their very own Happy Ever After. Not as an addendum to an epilogue of some other couple's story, but their own story. I would wish to see them see all the children off to college and on their own, I would wish to see them rework their lives as empty nesters, to see Evan grown into his own as an out, well-adjusted law enforcement professional and leader, a real man comfortable in his own skin. I would wish to see Matt come to a warm and expansive peace with Miranda, and for him to grow into his role as the steadying, challenging, protective influence in Evan's life. And yes, I would wish to see them throw their Big Fat Queens Cop Wedding, before we all finally say goodbye.
July 13, 2015
I want more Matt and Evan. I am tempted to reread book 1 and I never do that. I figure why reread books when there are still thousands of books to be read for the first time.
November 5, 2015
I really enjoyed this final (I think) installment in the Faith & Fidelity series. Matt and Evan were among the first couples I met when I started reading MM romance and are certainly unforgettable. Though I like Jim and Griffin, I was never as attached to them as I was to the Cerelli-Haight gang.
In this installment we see the toll their careers take on the personal lives of both couples. Evan is newly promoted as a police captain and both Matt and Jim are tied up in the security business they run together. Griffin finishes shooting and editing the movie he’s made and has a chance to produce a show on Broadway thanks to his BFF Daisy’s husband, Bennett.
But nothing is simple and both couples have outside stresses which threaten to drive a wedge between them. Thankfully, Evan is very committed to his love for Matt and it was delightful to see the strides he’s made in PDF and other areas of their relationship. Jim is heavily focused on a case which never closed and spends hours gathering evidence against the suspect, Tripp Ingersoll. And when Bennett cheats on Daisy, with a man, and Daisy finds out, Griffin has his hands full of a brokenhearted Daisy and her cute little girl.
There’s a lot going on in this story in the relationship area, and when things come to a head with Tripp trying to wipe out Jim and his family, the action is intense. The time afterward, however, is filled with wedding plans for Jim and Griffin and something sweet but left unsaid between Evan and Matt.
I could have done without the Daisy-Bennett subplot, but I suppose it was put in there to show us how much Griffin wanted to be a father and how great he would be. Daisy was never among my favorite characters and I really didn’t care that Bennett cheated on her and to be honest, as much as I like Jim and Griffin, I could have enjoyed the story even if their role had been minor. What worked best for me was the relationship between Evan and Matt. It was everything I could hope for. Even with the missteps Evan makes and the anger and resentment on Matt’s part early in the story, those two are rock solid and among my forever favorites. I’m so glad I had this chance to revisit them and their family and I highly recommend this story to all who have come to love them.
In this installment we see the toll their careers take on the personal lives of both couples. Evan is newly promoted as a police captain and both Matt and Jim are tied up in the security business they run together. Griffin finishes shooting and editing the movie he’s made and has a chance to produce a show on Broadway thanks to his BFF Daisy’s husband, Bennett.
But nothing is simple and both couples have outside stresses which threaten to drive a wedge between them. Thankfully, Evan is very committed to his love for Matt and it was delightful to see the strides he’s made in PDF and other areas of their relationship. Jim is heavily focused on a case which never closed and spends hours gathering evidence against the suspect, Tripp Ingersoll. And when Bennett cheats on Daisy, with a man, and Daisy finds out, Griffin has his hands full of a brokenhearted Daisy and her cute little girl.
There’s a lot going on in this story in the relationship area, and when things come to a head with Tripp trying to wipe out Jim and his family, the action is intense. The time afterward, however, is filled with wedding plans for Jim and Griffin and something sweet but left unsaid between Evan and Matt.
I could have done without the Daisy-Bennett subplot, but I suppose it was put in there to show us how much Griffin wanted to be a father and how great he would be. Daisy was never among my favorite characters and I really didn’t care that Bennett cheated on her and to be honest, as much as I like Jim and Griffin, I could have enjoyed the story even if their role had been minor. What worked best for me was the relationship between Evan and Matt. It was everything I could hope for. Even with the missteps Evan makes and the anger and resentment on Matt’s part early in the story, those two are rock solid and among my forever favorites. I’m so glad I had this chance to revisit them and their family and I highly recommend this story to all who have come to love them.
May 28, 2015
Oh well - somehow this book came out of the blue for me, I totally missed the release date :) So, when I finally got it I started at once, looking forward to getting up to speed with Evan and Matt and their kids. Well, that wasn't happening. It was more the story of Jim and Griffin, and Daisy and her family and then lots of people I either never heard of or totally forget about. The Ingersoll case - well, for all the place it had in this book, it was solved with a few measly sentences.
The kids - well, they were mentioned rather in passing, the rift between Evan and Matt, drawn out for the longest part of the book only to then hint at a secret wedding?
This whole book felt like incomplete storylines, they started, were drawn out quite substantially only to then fizzle out to nothing.
Yes, the whole thing left me rather unsatisfied.
The kids - well, they were mentioned rather in passing, the rift between Evan and Matt, drawn out for the longest part of the book only to then hint at a secret wedding?
This whole book felt like incomplete storylines, they started, were drawn out quite substantially only to then fizzle out to nothing.
Yes, the whole thing left me rather unsatisfied.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2015
I felt this book was more Jim/Griffin than Evan/Matt. The story was a bit disjointed and it wasn't a page turner. I sorta missed the family drama with the kids. The twins were conveniently with their aunt too often.
Jim and Griffin's sex scene were way hotter and more detailed than Evan and Matt's. I can appreciate the fade to black in the first book but this is an established couple. If we can get detailed sex for one why can't we for the other? I was also surprised that both couples were still using condoms.
I really didn't care about Daisy and Bennett's relationship. It made no sense what he did. Never did figure out why Shane was so upset.
I did like the mystery with Tripp. That was probably the most exciting thing this book had going for it.
Jim and Griffin's sex scene were way hotter and more detailed than Evan and Matt's. I can appreciate the fade to black in the first book but this is an established couple. If we can get detailed sex for one why can't we for the other? I was also surprised that both couples were still using condoms.
I really didn't care about Daisy and Bennett's relationship. It made no sense what he did. Never did figure out why Shane was so upset.
I did like the mystery with Tripp. That was probably the most exciting thing this book had going for it.
May 19, 2015
I can't remember the last time I've been so disappointed in a book. What happened to Evan/Matt being the MC's in this series? It's obvious Jim/Griffin are the author's OTP. So why'd she hijack E/M's story instead of just writing another series with those guys?
I actually find myself disliking the J/G relationship bc of this. And why did this series conclude as more of a crime novel than anything?
I'd recommend the first few books in this series, before the J/G takeover. But if you're hoping for a story where Evan and Matt have grown as a couple, have a satisfying ending to their story, and are the actual main characters then this isn't the book for you.
I actually find myself disliking the J/G relationship bc of this. And why did this series conclude as more of a crime novel than anything?
I'd recommend the first few books in this series, before the J/G takeover. But if you're hoping for a story where Evan and Matt have grown as a couple, have a satisfying ending to their story, and are the actual main characters then this isn't the book for you.
May 1, 2015
3.5 stars!!!
I enjoyed this book - would have liked more Matt & Evan!!
I enjoyed this book - would have liked more Matt & Evan!!
January 2, 2019
Totally love this book and it's no secret that I am only here for Evan and Matt. This was good and really enjoyable though my heart want more. There's a scene in the ending part and epilogue that I would have liked to happen. But I love this one nonetheless. Hello, it's Evan and Matt (my loves), who wouldn't love them? Ha-ha.
Want to read
April 2, 2015Ughhh this means I'd have to read book 2
February 21, 2020
Just re-read the entire series - still one of my favorites!
May 6, 2018
Cela fait plusieurs mois maintenant que j’ai achevé la lecture de l’ultime tome concluant cette série que j’aime tant.
Evan et Matt c’est tout simplement le couple qui m’a fait plonger de façon définitive dans la romance M/M, puis voilà ce sont mes chéris, un point c'est tout. La vérité c’est que cette tendresse que j’éprouve pour eux , je ne me l’explique pas vraiment, mais c’est ça la magie des rencontres livresques : certaines vous chamboulent et vous transforment en vrai chamallow ...
Truth & Tenderness décevra certainement de nombreux lecteurs, je n’en doute pas. Certains estimeront qu’il ne se passe rien, que le sexe est bien timoré, que les déclarations sont loin d’être enflammées... Forcément mon avis est celui d’une amoureuse, donc mes amoureux et bien leurs défauts je ne les vois pas ou plutôt ils se transforment en qualités (oh purée je pompe la pub de Meetic je crois bien !!!). J’aime mes gars tels qu’ils sont, j’aime leur pudeur, leur maturité (parce que oui mes amoureux ben ils approchent de la cinquantaine...enfin c’est surtout Matt la vieille branche), leurs taquineries, leur caractère de cochon parfois, le fait qu’ils se retranchent dans le silence au lieu d’ouvrir les vannes (comme la plupart des mecs quoi...).
Dans ce roman, nous suivons les deux couples de la série, Matt et Evan mais c’est étonnamment Griffin et James qui occupent le devant de la scène. Alors oui , j’aurais aimé plus d’Evan et de Matt mais je ne vais pas me plaindre, je serais une sale petite ingrate, d'autant plus que je me suis régalée de les retrouver si proches tous les quatre.
Ils devront évidemment affronter des difficultés, seront parfois rattraper par de vieux démons qui jetteront une ombre sur leur relation mais ici, pas de rebondissements majeurs, pas de drames terribles. N'en déplaise à certains, l'auteur a fait le choix de la simplicité, pas du sensationnel et c'est tant mieux !
Là vient le moment de vous parler de mes hommes, bon je vais être brève et éviter de passer pour une illuminée (eeuuh je crois que c'est perdu d'avance mais c'est pas grave, j'assume ) .
Mon Evan, mon incompris, toi que j’aime défendre bec et ongles, j’ai bien cru que cette fois j’allais te mettre un gros coup de pied au derrière... grand fou que tu es (mais tu sais comment me plaire et te faire pardonner, petit coquin :) ). Mon Matt, la vie serait bien plus belle près d’un roc tel que toi, j'ai encore une fois la preuve qu'on devrait tous avoir un Matt chez-soi.
Grif et Jim... ohlala vous deux m’avez fait un merveilleux cadeau, j’en suis encore toute émue rien que d’y penser. Griffin, tu es toujours aussi adorable, doux, aimant, sensible. Mon Jim, tu as enfin trouvé la paix. Cette blessure que tu portais en toi est enfin apaisée.
Je vous aime les gars et vous aurez toujours une place à part dans mon coeur, je sais que je ne vous oublierai jamais <3
Evidemment cette histoire est aussi l’occasion de retrouver les amis, les enfants avec toujours ce même bonheur. J'avoue cependant que l’auteur a été sadique, vraiment sadique. Mais pourquoi ? Pourquoi ???? Je sais bien que la chair est faible mais...
Que dire des dernières phrases, tout autant que certaines remarques de l’auteure, elles me font espérer très fort que les fans auront l’occasion de retrouver tout ce petit monde pour quelques moments volés, juste pour vérifier que tout va bien, qu’ils sont heureux...
Malgré tout, c’est une souffrance de les laisser et de leurs dire adieux une nouvelle fois, ils vont terriblement et douloureusement me manquer...
Pour l'ensemble de la série, pour ces hommes que j'aime tant c'est évidemment un énorme et mérité 5/5 !
Evan et Matt c’est tout simplement le couple qui m’a fait plonger de façon définitive dans la romance M/M, puis voilà ce sont mes chéris, un point c'est tout. La vérité c’est que cette tendresse que j’éprouve pour eux , je ne me l’explique pas vraiment, mais c’est ça la magie des rencontres livresques : certaines vous chamboulent et vous transforment en vrai chamallow ...
Truth & Tenderness décevra certainement de nombreux lecteurs, je n’en doute pas. Certains estimeront qu’il ne se passe rien, que le sexe est bien timoré, que les déclarations sont loin d’être enflammées... Forcément mon avis est celui d’une amoureuse, donc mes amoureux et bien leurs défauts je ne les vois pas ou plutôt ils se transforment en qualités (oh purée je pompe la pub de Meetic je crois bien !!!). J’aime mes gars tels qu’ils sont, j’aime leur pudeur, leur maturité (parce que oui mes amoureux ben ils approchent de la cinquantaine...enfin c’est surtout Matt la vieille branche), leurs taquineries, leur caractère de cochon parfois, le fait qu’ils se retranchent dans le silence au lieu d’ouvrir les vannes (comme la plupart des mecs quoi...).
Dans ce roman, nous suivons les deux couples de la série, Matt et Evan mais c’est étonnamment Griffin et James qui occupent le devant de la scène. Alors oui , j’aurais aimé plus d’Evan et de Matt mais je ne vais pas me plaindre, je serais une sale petite ingrate, d'autant plus que je me suis régalée de les retrouver si proches tous les quatre.
Ils devront évidemment affronter des difficultés, seront parfois rattraper par de vieux démons qui jetteront une ombre sur leur relation mais ici, pas de rebondissements majeurs, pas de drames terribles. N'en déplaise à certains, l'auteur a fait le choix de la simplicité, pas du sensationnel et c'est tant mieux !
Là vient le moment de vous parler de mes hommes, bon je vais être brève et éviter de passer pour une illuminée (eeuuh je crois que c'est perdu d'avance mais c'est pas grave, j'assume ) .
Mon Evan, mon incompris, toi que j’aime défendre bec et ongles, j’ai bien cru que cette fois j’allais te mettre un gros coup de pied au derrière... grand fou que tu es (mais tu sais comment me plaire et te faire pardonner, petit coquin :) ). Mon Matt, la vie serait bien plus belle près d’un roc tel que toi, j'ai encore une fois la preuve qu'on devrait tous avoir un Matt chez-soi.
Grif et Jim... ohlala vous deux m’avez fait un merveilleux cadeau, j’en suis encore toute émue rien que d’y penser. Griffin, tu es toujours aussi adorable, doux, aimant, sensible. Mon Jim, tu as enfin trouvé la paix. Cette blessure que tu portais en toi est enfin apaisée.
Je vous aime les gars et vous aurez toujours une place à part dans mon coeur, je sais que je ne vous oublierai jamais <3
Evidemment cette histoire est aussi l’occasion de retrouver les amis, les enfants avec toujours ce même bonheur. J'avoue cependant que l’auteur a été sadique, vraiment sadique. Mais pourquoi ? Pourquoi ???? Je sais bien que la chair est faible mais...
Que dire des dernières phrases, tout autant que certaines remarques de l’auteure, elles me font espérer très fort que les fans auront l’occasion de retrouver tout ce petit monde pour quelques moments volés, juste pour vérifier que tout va bien, qu’ils sont heureux...
Malgré tout, c’est une souffrance de les laisser et de leurs dire adieux une nouvelle fois, ils vont terriblement et douloureusement me manquer...
Pour l'ensemble de la série, pour ces hommes que j'aime tant c'est évidemment un énorme et mérité 5/5 !
October 4, 2021
I knew I was done with this series, when at 30% I just wanted it to be over already. It's a very long book, it's bringing together pretty much all the characters from the previous book, which means there's at least four different storylines and 13 characters alternating between chapters. I struggled with the pace, I didn't feel connected and engaged and the urge to skip chapters was real.
I don't remember much of it if I'm honest, other than thinking that it's trying to be bit of everything; an MM/G4U story, a family drama and a murder mystery. Sure, it's dealing with subjects like sexuality and self acceptance and that's done brilliantly in the first book. But by book 2, it throws in the extra characters, then the character's best friend, then her 'gay' husband and their baby, then their divorce, then an arson attack at said husband's offices. And somewhere in that chaos, of course, there's a wedding that needs to be planned and a murderer to be arrested, also from book 1.
A bit of a disappointing series end but I had kinda given up on it after book 3. If you read only one, read the first; if it does something to your heart, if you can't get enough of Matt and Evan's beautiful, heartbreaking, sweet, sexy and loving relationship and their story and their family or if you just highlight almost every damn sentence when they're together, then stop there because it doesn't get better than that in the next books.
I don't remember much of it if I'm honest, other than thinking that it's trying to be bit of everything; an MM/G4U story, a family drama and a murder mystery. Sure, it's dealing with subjects like sexuality and self acceptance and that's done brilliantly in the first book. But by book 2, it throws in the extra characters, then the character's best friend, then her 'gay' husband and their baby, then their divorce, then an arson attack at said husband's offices. And somewhere in that chaos, of course, there's a wedding that needs to be planned and a murderer to be arrested, also from book 1.
A bit of a disappointing series end but I had kinda given up on it after book 3. If you read only one, read the first; if it does something to your heart, if you can't get enough of Matt and Evan's beautiful, heartbreaking, sweet, sexy and loving relationship and their story and their family or if you just highlight almost every damn sentence when they're together, then stop there because it doesn't get better than that in the next books.
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