What do you think?
Rate this book
A Fine Romance
Benji Rao, a hard-working welder from the Pacific Northwest, is recovering from a life-threatening and life-changing injury at a posh California resort. Trouble is, he’s miserable. His friends are worried, his panic attacks are getting worse, and the guy in the bungalow next to his is none other than Jamie Durham—the kind of neighbor who plays music loud, blows everybody’s breakers, and doesn’t care what people think of him.But there’s more to Jamie than late nights, a huge inheritance, and a wild reputation. After endless bad press, Jamie longs for a chance to live a normal life, without the rumors and innuendo, and without his growing concern that he might be going crazy.When Ben finds himself desperate for a date and Jamie is the only option, Jamie can’t believe his luck—a date with Ben would be as normal as it gets. But when the date doesn’t exactly go as planned, Ben and Jamie must overcome their personal demons to find their way to love.
- GenresM M Romance
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2015
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 30, 2015
Perhaps 2.5 stars?
It started interesting, only to then, when both MCs met, getting totally on my nerves - especially Jamie. Then, with the dinner invitation, I got into the story and liked it quite a lot. Only to in the end not liking the development anymore. The whole element of crime was hare-brained.
It started interesting, only to then, when both MCs met, getting totally on my nerves - especially Jamie. Then, with the dinner invitation, I got into the story and liked it quite a lot. Only to in the end not liking the development anymore. The whole element of crime was hare-brained.
January 5, 2016
Thirty-something gay man Benji Rao had a near fatal accident as a welder at a shipyard several months ago and now, almost done with recovery, he's hesitant to go back to work, partly because of the dangers he now sees in his old job, and partly because his near death experience made him aware of how he'd been avoiding life. Fortunately his best friends have invited him to spend some time with them on a posh California Island known for its resort and it's past as a getaway for the stars.
Unfortunately Ben's tranquil plans are soon disrupted by Jamie Durham, the tabloid celebrity bad-boy who grew up on the island and who's now staying in the cabin next to Ben.
This short novella takes the "loathe at first sight" romance trope in an unexpected and interesting direction that some other reviewers have had problems with, but for me this story just worked. The characters are all basically charming and the writing was a level above what one usually finds in the m/m romance genre. The setting is carefully drawn and one can almost smell the cocoa butter as the characters hit the beach. The sex here is somewhat less graphic than one generally finds in this type of tale but for me the movie-lover plot-points made up for it.
The ending did seem to escalate and then end a bit quickly but still, overall I enjoyed it.
*** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
Unfortunately Ben's tranquil plans are soon disrupted by Jamie Durham, the tabloid celebrity bad-boy who grew up on the island and who's now staying in the cabin next to Ben.
This short novella takes the "loathe at first sight" romance trope in an unexpected and interesting direction that some other reviewers have had problems with, but for me this story just worked. The characters are all basically charming and the writing was a level above what one usually finds in the m/m romance genre. The setting is carefully drawn and one can almost smell the cocoa butter as the characters hit the beach. The sex here is somewhat less graphic than one generally finds in this type of tale but for me the movie-lover plot-points made up for it.
The ending did seem to escalate and then end a bit quickly but still, overall I enjoyed it.
*** Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest and impartial review ***
December 1, 2015
A quiet beach resort on an island that was once a playground for the rich and famous provides a beautiful backdrop for Benji and Jamie to work out their respective problems. In neighbouring cabins on the beach, Benji tries new things like surfing while Jamie attempts to party his problems away.
I love this unlikely pairing. Serious, boring Benji is recovering from a near death experience and challenging himself to make changes for a different future. Celebrity rich kid and party animal Jamie is pretty sure he’s going insane. The connection between the two men is unlikely but beautifully written.
I loved Benji’s friends, but also his sense of isolation as they made a family together. Benji’s resilience as he learns to surf is also very sweet. Jamie is anything but sweet when we meet him, but I couldn’t help but grow to love him once Benji starts to know him properly
This is a subtle story that packs an emotional punch. I really enjoyed the quiet romance. I’m not sure it really needed the action sequence at the end, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall story.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reviews.
I love this unlikely pairing. Serious, boring Benji is recovering from a near death experience and challenging himself to make changes for a different future. Celebrity rich kid and party animal Jamie is pretty sure he’s going insane. The connection between the two men is unlikely but beautifully written.
I loved Benji’s friends, but also his sense of isolation as they made a family together. Benji’s resilience as he learns to surf is also very sweet. Jamie is anything but sweet when we meet him, but I couldn’t help but grow to love him once Benji starts to know him properly
This is a subtle story that packs an emotional punch. I really enjoyed the quiet romance. I’m not sure it really needed the action sequence at the end, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall story.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reviews.
December 18, 2015
Ben was injured on the job and fears returning. He takes a much needed vacation off the coast of California to work up the nerve to return to his welding career.
Jamie is an actor/entrepreneur/son of a famous musician. His family is worried he’s crazy and so is Jamie. If he’s deemed incompetent he won’t inherit his father’s business, which he loves.
Oh. And Jamie is mostly an asshole.
It takes a long while for these two guys to come together – like 60% of the book, and when they do, it’s tentative at best. Ben isn’t quite sure what to make of Jamie, but he’s compelled by the vulnerability he sees behind the obnoxious exterior.
**
This book worked for me only a little. I liked the characters – I love a good “bad boy makes good” story and thought they were fun together.
What I didn’t love was the 180 Ben made from hating to loving Jamie. I also didn’t feel the ILY moment when it came. The crazy uncle thing sort of threw me for a loop, too and seemed overly dramatic.
But… it was a cute and funny at times and had a sweet HEA.
3.5 of 5 stars
Jamie is an actor/entrepreneur/son of a famous musician. His family is worried he’s crazy and so is Jamie. If he’s deemed incompetent he won’t inherit his father’s business, which he loves.
Oh. And Jamie is mostly an asshole.
It takes a long while for these two guys to come together – like 60% of the book, and when they do, it’s tentative at best. Ben isn’t quite sure what to make of Jamie, but he’s compelled by the vulnerability he sees behind the obnoxious exterior.
**
This book worked for me only a little. I liked the characters – I love a good “bad boy makes good” story and thought they were fun together.
What I didn’t love was the 180 Ben made from hating to loving Jamie. I also didn’t feel the ILY moment when it came. The crazy uncle thing sort of threw me for a loop, too and seemed overly dramatic.
But… it was a cute and funny at times and had a sweet HEA.
3.5 of 5 stars
October 9, 2022
Kindle-Sort-ReRead
The author created an unpleasant character then made me almost like him. By the time they were actually talking I was on board.
Then the mystery exploded. There was no mystery, I've seen the film, even for those who haven't the title is a common enough idiom that the mention gives the plot away.
It gets ridiculous. Cartoonish drama.
Kept simple it could have worked.
The author created an unpleasant character then made me almost like him. By the time they were actually talking I was on board.
Then the mystery exploded. There was no mystery, I've seen the film, even for those who haven't the title is a common enough idiom that the mention gives the plot away.
It gets ridiculous. Cartoonish drama.
Kept simple it could have worked.
February 24, 2016
Could two people be more miserable and self absorbed at that moment in time.
Ben, has decided, even if didn’t realize it that his life is set. Work, home, friends, done. This was before and after the accident. Just now add the panic attacks and now add the big question mark of the future to his boring life and well, that’s Ben.
Jamie, is the opposite, with his father suicide still fresh in his mind and a company he wants more than anything but some personal and public issues that may stop that from happening. He’s a mess. Drinking too much, fighting, and now running away too lick his wounds and regroup.
Ben’s friends really guide this tale. Even though the focus is Ben and Jamie. Both are so obsessed in there own worlds they would have passed like ships in the night if it wasn’t for someone having a crazy table/seating rule.
But as the days go along and we get deeper into these two, we start seeing the tendered souls that they are and the beautiful couple that they could be.
With the extra twists and turns thrown around, we are really given a great tale.
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviewers
Ben, has decided, even if didn’t realize it that his life is set. Work, home, friends, done. This was before and after the accident. Just now add the panic attacks and now add the big question mark of the future to his boring life and well, that’s Ben.
Jamie, is the opposite, with his father suicide still fresh in his mind and a company he wants more than anything but some personal and public issues that may stop that from happening. He’s a mess. Drinking too much, fighting, and now running away too lick his wounds and regroup.
Ben’s friends really guide this tale. Even though the focus is Ben and Jamie. Both are so obsessed in there own worlds they would have passed like ships in the night if it wasn’t for someone having a crazy table/seating rule.
But as the days go along and we get deeper into these two, we start seeing the tendered souls that they are and the beautiful couple that they could be.
With the extra twists and turns thrown around, we are really given a great tale.
I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviewers
June 9, 2016
This book was quite aptly named. The romance in this book is fine. The characters were fine. The plot was fine. The writing was fine. All was fine. Nothing great but still interesting.
Ben Rao is on vacation after an accident where he nearly died but his rest is being ruined by the guy in the cabin next door—Jamie Durham. This falls along the trope I call I Hate You, I Want You, I Love You. First they fight, then they fool around, then they fall in love.
Even though they weren’t anything special I enjoyed the characters and felt the chemistry between Ben and Jamie. I especially liked Ben’s friends, Nate and Bree. Anybody would be lucky to have friends like them.
There was a mystery aspect that was handled well. It wasn’t that hard to figure out what was going on, but I enjoyed watching the resolution unfold.
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2015...
Ben Rao is on vacation after an accident where he nearly died but his rest is being ruined by the guy in the cabin next door—Jamie Durham. This falls along the trope I call I Hate You, I Want You, I Love You. First they fight, then they fool around, then they fall in love.
Even though they weren’t anything special I enjoyed the characters and felt the chemistry between Ben and Jamie. I especially liked Ben’s friends, Nate and Bree. Anybody would be lucky to have friends like them.
There was a mystery aspect that was handled well. It wasn’t that hard to figure out what was going on, but I enjoyed watching the resolution unfold.
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2015...
December 11, 2015
I very much enjoyed the characters, setting, and even the mystery plot. But this is a 3.5, not 4, stars because the sex was so PG13! I want MAWR! Don't give me great tension and then a simple handjob. This book had enough time and space for a few more erotic interludes. The emotional intimacy was there but the sexual intimacy didn't match.
December 27, 2015
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews