River... Redeemed

Studs & Steel #2

by Heather Mar-Gerrison

I stared at him. He might just have been the person I’d been waiting for my whole life – and he belonged to my best friend – and that really sucked but it was the way it was...
River is a podium dancer at the swanky Studs & Steel gay club - as such he has the pick of the bunch when it comes to getting a guy...
River's never been fussy about who he's slept with and doesn't really believe in relationships - just having a good time... until he meets Jodie - his best friend's boyfriend...
They have an immediate connection that they try their best to control but their feelings get the better of them - finally ending in disaster... Can anything be salvaged from this dangerous love triangle?

Genres: M M Romance

ebook

First published December 24, 2016

About the author

Author of Studs & Steel and Riverside Series. I love to write M/M romance and as a sucker for a HEA, you're guaranteed one in my books. 🌈#happyheatherafters
You can read excerpts and have first glimpses of my books by checking out my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/heather.marg.... You can also see the stories told in pictures at Pinterest https://uk.pinterest.com/heathemg

Reviews

[Marianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I loved River and Jody story it was amazing! River changed a lot and I loved how his character changed through the whole book!:)

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

River has more issues than you could shake a stick at...
For starters he's never felt truly loved by his parents and has looked for approval and love in all the wrong places.
He now sleeps with guys left, right and centre, looking for that special someone who is going to prove to him that love really exists even though he doesn't really believe it does.
When his best friend in the whole world (and possibly the only person he's ever really loved) comes to stay with his boyfriend in tow, River really tries his best to keep his feelings in check.
He doesn't want to fall in love with the wrong guy and he tries his hardest not to...
This is the second in the Studs & Steel series and deals with cheating, broken hearts and trying to salvage friendship in the face of adversity.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3☆

I liked this one better than the previous one
but *ugh while in the first book there was cheating which happend off page and was with Kody's ex in this story *ugh River actually cheated with the boyfriend of his brother from another mother .
Jody & River were really adorably cute together and their chemistry was off the charts but still.. cheating ..nope did not like it at all.

[Naomi-Lynn Marguerite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, but overly complicated.

[Desmond]

So I have read several of this authors books before and enjoyed them. I think she is an excellent author

Had a real problem with this one though. Cheating is not a deal breaker for me in a romance per-say , as long as it is handled well.

It was not handled well in this story.


The author tries desperately to keep the main character River sympathetic. While he engages in an affair behind is BEST FRIENDS back. The problem is all said and done he is just a guy who got drunk and slept with someone's BF. A person whom he is so close to they are like brothers. (I hate the alcohol as an excuse for bad behavior. IF your that drunk that you have no self control, normally your too drunk to screw).

In addition I think that if Jake, His bestie has to make his brother/friend promise not sleep with His boyfriend. Neither are probably quality people.

But all of this underhanded behavior is justified by the fact that River and Jodie, well they feel real bad about what they are doing. Not to mention deeply conflicted because they both love Jake in different way. Not enough for them to cheat and betray his trust. River wants to tell Jake and Jodie's doesn't because he loves them both and doesn't want to hurt Jake. And it's really Jake's fault for leaving them alone for 3 freaking weeks for work. Really ???

So after all of this.. How is this resolved? Jake catches them kissing out beats the hell out of River to the point of hospitalization. Conveniently making him the bad guy or at the very least not completely the victim.

Then after being mad enough to almost beat someone to death. Jake gracefully walks away from the situation claiming he knows it's true love. Even if it true love, That doesn't really account for the betrayal, broken promises and the lies. How could you be friends with them or trust them ever again. I can suspend belief but come on. Real people... Yea they would be enemies for life over a situation like this.


I hate Jodie btw. First him being worried river would cheat and leave him if they got together. Well River is the one technically cheating. But Jodie acknowledges he is a hypocrite so it's guess. The part where Jodie is jealous and walking off because some one told him Jake and river were off together. That just added a special layer silliness to the equation


I'm still going to buy this authors upcoming books. I certainly devoured this book in one sitting to see how it would all shake out. And I respect the fact she tackled a thorny situation and I think it could have been a good if angst ridden ride. But sometimes not everyone gets to walk away one of the good guys.