Granite

by Brandon Redstone

Sometimes the greatest rewards only come after the biggest risks...

Kelly Donoghue has always believed that helping young men emerge from the closet into the brave gay world of the L.A. club scene was part of a community service that only he could provide. Yet it was starting to seem that with each new casual encounter and night of steamy, no-strings-attached sex, Kelly was simply adding one more brick to the granite fortress around his own heart. Even for a man like him, not having someone lasting to share his own life with was finally taking its toll.

Luke Anderson has been behind the bar at the Granite club for at least as long as Kelly has been a regular, and despite watching him leave with a new man practically every week, he's been harboring a crush that he has never acted on. Aside from complimenting him on his cocktail making skills, Kelly barely seemed to notice that Luke was alive.

But now Luke is facing a cross country move, giving him the opportunity to leave everything behind and start fresh in New York. Yet can he really do something that drastic without ever giving things a shot? Without ever even telling Kelly how he truly feels? The trouble is, Luke is very aware of the type of man Kelly is - out for a good time, not a long time - and that's not something that Luke is looking for. But what if Kelly is looking for something more as well?

Is finding out worth the risk of having his own heart broken?

Granite is a stand-alone gay romance novel that ends with a HEA and no cliffhanger.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2016

Reviews

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable on so many levels. I loved the way we got to see Kelly and Luke interact with each other as friendly acquaintances while Luke was tending bar and Kelly was on the prowl for some new young blood before they got together. Poor Luke was harboring a major crush on Kelly for years, and Kelly had absolutely no clue...He never picked up on the fact that Luke was the only one that waited on him at the bar, or that Luke gave his drinks extra kick, or even the fact that he named a drink after him "The Donoghue" (Bourbon, Drambuie, and a twist of lemon). There were a few times that I thought someone needs to shake some sense into Kelly and make him see what was standing right in front of him. Once Kelly and Luke started seeing one another they had a few curve balls thrown their way.

I loved the chemistry between Kelly and Luke, they didn't fall into insta-love, their relationship grew from acquaintance, to friendship, to lovers, a nice natural progression that was fun to watch. This was the first book I have read by Brandon Redstone and I look forward to reading more of his books.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. That's because I was having a hard time trying to like Kelly. Luke on the other hand, was great from the get go. Still think he could of done better but Kelly is what his heart wants. Makes them more realistic.

[Jasmine | Filthylittlereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting to know more about Kelly. He's a lot more than the man behind the player mask he wears. Luke spent years pining for Kelly before he was practically forced to make his feelings known. There were times in the novel that made me so frustrated. I hate when someone takes your choice away. Also, when the characters have spent unnecessary time apart when all they'd had to do was be open and honest. Stories about finally getting together with the person you've crushed on for years is something I can definitely relate to. Brandon Redstone does a great job at creating that perfect emotional struggle from both characters. You feel as if you’re able to relate to Luke and Kelly.. This story teaches you about not judging a book by the cover and that sometimes, a person is worth more than the risk. This story is funny, sexy, sensual and emotional to the point where you don't just read it, you feel it. My only criticism is that I would've liked an epilogue for the couple. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed their story. I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Leona Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Granite" and enjoyed it very much. There was such tension in the relationship between the MCs, Kelly and Luke. Luke had loved Kelly for years and stood back as he watched Kelly go out time and again with young men he met at the bar that Luke owned with his best firend. Love blossoms for a while and then Kelly backs away and Luke goes to NY to open another club. But can they come together?
I was gifted with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it is by an author I hadn't read before, but the blurb for the plot got me curious. The characters pulled me in, and kept me turning the pages, two guys who were similar in just enough ways that I enjoyed seeing their different reactions to the same, or similar, situations... and because certain aspects of their personalities seemed, on the surface, to be well aligned, I was intrigued watching the dynamic of their relationship play out, seeing who took the lead when, watching the natural give and take between the characters.

[K Cherry · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are going to have ménage in the book pleas state before!!!

If you are going to have ménage in the book , please state in your synopsis because I would have completely AVOIDED this book. This is so not my m/m genre. Wish I would have known before, and I would not have wasted my time on it!!!!

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rock Solid

Oh my I liked this book. Luke was so solid and patient. He was slow in pursuing what he wanted but he did it in a classy way that I enjoyed. Kelly was a sweetie who was running away from what he truly wanted. All he needed was someone to show him. Cute short story.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, quick read. Good love story with a HEA and some pretty steamy love scenes. Really would rate it more 3.5 or 3.75 but rounded to 4.

[CMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I've tried this author, and loved it!!!