4.5 Stars
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Beau shut himself off emotionally years ago. A part of him died when his first and only love passed away from complications due to AIDS. Now living with HIV, Beau doesn't want to put anyone through what he went through, watching someone you love waste away, so when William keeps trying to pursue him, Beau keeps him at arms' length. William knows what he wants and he goes after it. He doesn't know why the sexy Cajun continues to push him away at each turn.
This was a really sexy and enjoyable read. Because Beau keeps pushing William away, it's a very slow burn, but once it heats up to full boil,... Omg it was smoking hot!!! I was actually really surprised. Reading the blurb and the subject matter, I figured this book would be loaded with angst, but while the theme is very serious and deep, it was kind of a light read. I thought the author did a fabulous job at handling the HIV issue, with grace and dignity. It saddens me that it's such a stigma for people living with this disease. I think she was well informed and well educated on the subject matter, and it was written well into the story without sounding too clinical.
This book is part of a series and while each book features a different couple or trouple, quite a few of the previous characters from the other books play really big roles in this story, so if you haven't read the other books in the series, I would suggest you read those first. I don't think this reads well as a standalone. I've read the other books, and I was confused at times trying to remember who people were. It doesn't make it any easier, that over half of these previous characters are porn stars or former porn stars, and have two names!!! I have no clue how Ms. Smith keeps all these people straight.
Let's talk about Beau before we go. Ms. Smith did well at authenticating Beau's speech and dialect, although to be truthful, it's highly unlikely that you will find people who were born here in New Orleans who speak like Beau. I've lived here all my life, and if you head further west, down highway 90 towards Houma and Lafayette, those Bayou people do speak like Beau. But she wanted to create a Cajun, so who am I to nitpick it too much. I will say that as much as we heard about Izzie, Alma and Beau's life growing up in New Orleans, I was kind of sad that she didn't bring the story here. Izzie, Alma and Beau's heritage was such a huge part of his past and shaping him into what he is today, it was disappointing not getting to meet Alma.
This was a really enjoyable story. It was well written and flowed well, and it's jam packed with love, romance, family and some incredible sex scenes. It left me feeling the warm and fuzzies. Highly recommended!!