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Maple Springs #3
Sugar Season
They say it’s better to have loved and lost. They have no idea what they’re talking about…
Police officer Graham Andersen already had his happy ending. A whirlwind romance, a young marriage, more happiness than he knew what to do with. And then it was over, almost as soon as it began.
After his husband Joey died, Graham knew he’d never find that kind of love again. But what he’d had with Joey was more than some people ever got in life. He’d had his chance at happiness. He couldn’t ask for more.
“Another night, another lifetime, and I would have said yes. But not tonight. Not anymore.”
When chef Ryan Gallagher is swindled out of his savings right before he can open his restaurant, it almost seems right. One more failure for his long list, one more way he’ll never measure up to his older brother. Joey might be gone, but he still finds a way to overshadow Ryan.
With no money and no prospects, Ryan has no choice but to move home to the family that rejected him and his sexuality. But when he goes out to the local bar one winter night, he never dreams the hot guy he’s hitting on used to be his brother’s husband.
“Please, can we just pretend this never happened? I had no idea who you were when I met you.”
Both men insist that they’re not interested. And yet neither can resist the desire they feel. But relationships require love. Love requires risk. And both Graham and Ryan know this life offers no guarantees. After a long winter in both their hearts, are they finally ready for spring?
Sugar Season is Book 3 in the Maple Springs series. While each book focuses on different characters and can be read on its own, they're even more fun to read together. Sugar Season is a 75,000 word steamy, contemporary, second chance m/m romance. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA.
Police officer Graham Andersen already had his happy ending. A whirlwind romance, a young marriage, more happiness than he knew what to do with. And then it was over, almost as soon as it began.
After his husband Joey died, Graham knew he’d never find that kind of love again. But what he’d had with Joey was more than some people ever got in life. He’d had his chance at happiness. He couldn’t ask for more.
“Another night, another lifetime, and I would have said yes. But not tonight. Not anymore.”
When chef Ryan Gallagher is swindled out of his savings right before he can open his restaurant, it almost seems right. One more failure for his long list, one more way he’ll never measure up to his older brother. Joey might be gone, but he still finds a way to overshadow Ryan.
With no money and no prospects, Ryan has no choice but to move home to the family that rejected him and his sexuality. But when he goes out to the local bar one winter night, he never dreams the hot guy he’s hitting on used to be his brother’s husband.
“Please, can we just pretend this never happened? I had no idea who you were when I met you.”
Both men insist that they’re not interested. And yet neither can resist the desire they feel. But relationships require love. Love requires risk. And both Graham and Ryan know this life offers no guarantees. After a long winter in both their hearts, are they finally ready for spring?
Sugar Season is Book 3 in the Maple Springs series. While each book focuses on different characters and can be read on its own, they're even more fun to read together. Sugar Season is a 75,000 word steamy, contemporary, second chance m/m romance. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA.
311 pages, ebook
First published January 2, 2017
190 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Spears
44 books442 followersSpencer Spears writes LGBTQ+ stories that are snarky, sweet, and will break your heart in all the best ways. Spencer believes we all deserve to write our own happy endings. When not at the computer, Spencer can be found gardening, knitting, or curled up with a good book. Visit www.spencerspears.com for free books, updates, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 7, 2017
Graham lost his husband, Joey, in Afghanistan five years ago, but he still wears his wedding ring. He has a strict no dating, no looking, no fantasizing about anyone who isn't Joey policy.
Every year he visits Joey's parents on Joey's birthday. This is an awkward visit, considering Joey's mother thinks homosexuality is a sin and never approved of Joey's relationship with Graham. But Graham feels like he owes it to Joey somehow.
The one time Graham breaks and allows a hot guy to give him a hand job outside a bar, it comes back to bite him in the ass. Literally. The hot guy turns out to be Joey's younger brother, Ryan, all pierced and tatted up and bad ass.
Now, If you're going to have a tatted, pierced MC, please offer at least SOME details about said tats and piercings. Ryan's are never discussed, not once. Graham doesn't trace them with his tongue; there are no descriptions of the tats. We don't even know where the piercings are! I was bitterly disappointed by this.
The romance is pretty angsty, mostly because Graham seriously acts like a petulant child and blows hot and cold. He can't stay away from Ryan, but then he gets in his head and freaks out. He feels guilty about falling for Joey's brother, which I sort of get. I'm not sure I could ever sleep with anyone my brother slept with; it would feel vaguely incestuous. Except Ryan has no such qualms; it's all Graham.
Despite this, I liked Graham and Ryan together. This story is HOT! I wasn't disappointed by the steam level at all.
Unfortunately, the author also throws in a mystery. I use the term "mystery" loosely, because there is no real investigative work. The entire police department, including Graham, looks like a bunch of idiots.
The villain is obvious immediately. There is only one possible suspect, and we meet them right away. I was hoping against hope this person was a red herring and there'd be a twist somewhere, but nope. The mystery was well and truly lame and utterly unnecessary.
On top of that, Ryan is involved in a lawsuit to get his money back from a scam artist. The trial happens way too quickly and everything is resolved too easily. The most annoying thing was that Ryan's friend, who's not even involved in said lawsuit, calls him with updates; that's right, not the lawyer or the police, but his FRIEND. I think this was just a way to introduce the friend, Adam, as a potential MC.
The book doesn't include an epilogue. You have to sign up for the author's newsletter to download this "bonus" chapter (why is an epilogue a bonus? It should be mandatory!). I did, and it was worth it. The epilogue is sexy and brings a true HEA.
Sugar Season, which can be read as a standalone, is a mixed bag.
I liked the dual POV, the sexy times, the secondary characters, and some of the sweet moments between Ryan and Graham.
But the mystery was silly, and Graham's behaviour really OTT immature and mean. He needed to do some serious grovelling, which didn't happen.
I'm going with 3 stars and would consider reading the next book in the series. This one was good enough that I want to give the author another chance.
Every year he visits Joey's parents on Joey's birthday. This is an awkward visit, considering Joey's mother thinks homosexuality is a sin and never approved of Joey's relationship with Graham. But Graham feels like he owes it to Joey somehow.
The one time Graham breaks and allows a hot guy to give him a hand job outside a bar, it comes back to bite him in the ass. Literally. The hot guy turns out to be Joey's younger brother, Ryan, all pierced and tatted up and bad ass.
Now, If you're going to have a tatted, pierced MC, please offer at least SOME details about said tats and piercings. Ryan's are never discussed, not once. Graham doesn't trace them with his tongue; there are no descriptions of the tats. We don't even know where the piercings are! I was bitterly disappointed by this.
The romance is pretty angsty, mostly because Graham seriously acts like a petulant child and blows hot and cold. He can't stay away from Ryan, but then he gets in his head and freaks out. He feels guilty about falling for Joey's brother, which I sort of get. I'm not sure I could ever sleep with anyone my brother slept with; it would feel vaguely incestuous. Except Ryan has no such qualms; it's all Graham.
Despite this, I liked Graham and Ryan together. This story is HOT! I wasn't disappointed by the steam level at all.
Unfortunately, the author also throws in a mystery. I use the term "mystery" loosely, because there is no real investigative work. The entire police department, including Graham, looks like a bunch of idiots.
The villain is obvious immediately. There is only one possible suspect, and we meet them right away. I was hoping against hope this person was a red herring and there'd be a twist somewhere, but nope. The mystery was well and truly lame and utterly unnecessary.
On top of that, Ryan is involved in a lawsuit to get his money back from a scam artist. The trial happens way too quickly and everything is resolved too easily. The most annoying thing was that Ryan's friend, who's not even involved in said lawsuit, calls him with updates; that's right, not the lawyer or the police, but his FRIEND. I think this was just a way to introduce the friend, Adam, as a potential MC.
The book doesn't include an epilogue. You have to sign up for the author's newsletter to download this "bonus" chapter (why is an epilogue a bonus? It should be mandatory!). I did, and it was worth it. The epilogue is sexy and brings a true HEA.
Sugar Season, which can be read as a standalone, is a mixed bag.
I liked the dual POV, the sexy times, the secondary characters, and some of the sweet moments between Ryan and Graham.
But the mystery was silly, and Graham's behaviour really OTT immature and mean. He needed to do some serious grovelling, which didn't happen.
I'm going with 3 stars and would consider reading the next book in the series. This one was good enough that I want to give the author another chance.
January 2, 2017
This was a pleasant surprise! It's a new to me author, but I really enjoyed the story. Far better than a lot of the KU offerings I've found, especially in M/M. Sometimes, middle of the night browsing pays off!
One thing that did kind of bug me, was that I found no mention anywhere of this being a part of a series, but once I started seeing all the couples in the story, I did some digging, and found that this was, in fact, at least a third in a series about men in a small town. All connected through friendship, even if the individual books can stand alone. Now I'll be trying out the other books, as well.
I loved Ryan, and while my heart went out to Graham, he did irritate me a lot. He was a really nice guy, who apparently thinks that just because his husband died, he did too, or at least the romantic bits of him did. He constantly felt guilt at the idea of moving on, and while I got his hesitation over moving on with Joey's brother, it was just hard to watch the guy waffle back and forth, especially seeing how much said waffling was hurting Ryan.
The little "mystery" about who was vandalizing the town was way too easy. I really hoped that the was just red herring, but alas, it was exactly who I thought it was, I just didn't have the reasoning right.
The sex was hot, the story was good, I liked the characters, and the editing was even good. I think I might have caught one minor mistake. For once, a KU book I wouldn't have minded paying a few bucks for, rather than just wishing I had those minutes spent reading back!
One thing that did kind of bug me, was that I found no mention anywhere of this being a part of a series, but once I started seeing all the couples in the story, I did some digging, and found that this was, in fact, at least a third in a series about men in a small town. All connected through friendship, even if the individual books can stand alone. Now I'll be trying out the other books, as well.
I loved Ryan, and while my heart went out to Graham, he did irritate me a lot. He was a really nice guy, who apparently thinks that just because his husband died, he did too, or at least the romantic bits of him did. He constantly felt guilt at the idea of moving on, and while I got his hesitation over moving on with Joey's brother, it was just hard to watch the guy waffle back and forth, especially seeing how much said waffling was hurting Ryan.
The little "mystery" about who was vandalizing the town was way too easy. I really hoped that the was just red herring, but alas, it was exactly who I thought it was, I just didn't have the reasoning right.
The sex was hot, the story was good, I liked the characters, and the editing was even good. I think I might have caught one minor mistake. For once, a KU book I wouldn't have minded paying a few bucks for, rather than just wishing I had those minutes spent reading back!
dnf-not-4-me
January 6, 2017120 page KU with decent reviews and a fascinating blurb. I plan to guinea pig after I'm done with the Chris Owen BDSM. *rubs hands together*
January 16, 2017
*** Another wonderful Spencer Spears M/M romance, that I loved !
Graham, 6'2", 30, is a cop; steady, and dedicated.
After five years he still grieves for his dead husband, Joey.
Small, slim, tattooed, pierced Ryan, 25, is Joey's younger brother.
He's still floundering in life because the money he's saved to begin his own restaurant was swindled from him. On the anniversary of Joey's birthday, the family gathers, and Graham is invited. Joey and Ryan's family are homophobic, and struggle greatly to be civil.
Graham hasn't seen Ryan in 5 years, and Ryan has come to his folks house. There is a mix up, and then the men are face to face.
The men talk, visit the "sugar" forest,
and cannot seem to avoid the attraction they have for one another. Each man figures it will never work, but neither can stay away.
* As they move forward, their sexy times are explosive, so deeply satisfying, so destined. Gosh !
The opposites are exciting, too; big muscled cop and the elfin tattooed Chef. Mmmmm...
There is a backstory of escalating robberies in the small town. Ryan must testify, and we hope he gets his money back. Will Graham finally reconcile his feelings? The guys find each other in the sugar forest once again, and while there are bumps in the road, we still hope. The plot flows beautifully, and I couldn't put it down. There are no cliffhangers, no cheating; but some violence.
I highly recommend this fabulous story !
Heartwarming and timely. ENJOY !
=======================================
Graham, 6'2", 30, is a cop; steady, and dedicated.
After five years he still grieves for his dead husband, Joey.
Small, slim, tattooed, pierced Ryan, 25, is Joey's younger brother.
He's still floundering in life because the money he's saved to begin his own restaurant was swindled from him. On the anniversary of Joey's birthday, the family gathers, and Graham is invited. Joey and Ryan's family are homophobic, and struggle greatly to be civil.
Graham hasn't seen Ryan in 5 years, and Ryan has come to his folks house. There is a mix up, and then the men are face to face.
The men talk, visit the "sugar" forest,
and cannot seem to avoid the attraction they have for one another. Each man figures it will never work, but neither can stay away.
* As they move forward, their sexy times are explosive, so deeply satisfying, so destined. Gosh !
The opposites are exciting, too; big muscled cop and the elfin tattooed Chef. Mmmmm...
There is a backstory of escalating robberies in the small town. Ryan must testify, and we hope he gets his money back. Will Graham finally reconcile his feelings? The guys find each other in the sugar forest once again, and while there are bumps in the road, we still hope. The plot flows beautifully, and I couldn't put it down. There are no cliffhangers, no cheating; but some violence.
I highly recommend this fabulous story !
Heartwarming and timely. ENJOY !
=======================================
February 7, 2017
2,5 stars.
I loved the premise of the story. And I really liked the beginning of the book, Graham and Ryan's first meeting and how terribly embarrassed they both were after that. It was a situation with so much potential. Throughout the whole story... well, there were some scenes that really touched me. And I was interested in what was going on, and emotionally involved. It was a book I never thought to DNF.
At the same time - I don't know, something about the writing felt off for me. I can't say exactly what but the thing was I noticed it. Usually when I'm involved in a story I don't notice how it is written, I'm just inside it. Here I was kinda stumbling over the writing style. And then some scenes felt too rushed but some were dragging. And what about all those friends? Oh, I see, there are separate books about them. Too bad I still couldn't memorize which one of them was which.
I really liked Ryan. He was the character I understood and sympathized with fully. And the most touching scenes in the book were about him, like when he's talking to Joey.
Graham, on the other hand... he was appearing as more and more of a jerk as the story progressed. Until the pinnacle of his assholishness - the "goodbye sex" scene. Honestly, if someone did a thing like this to me, I'd spit in his face. Literally. Okay, he apologized many times after that but it still didn't make me like him.
All in all, it felt like I could have liked the story much more if some things were a bit different. As it is, I'm not going to read the sequel, which is saying something.
I loved the premise of the story. And I really liked the beginning of the book, Graham and Ryan's first meeting and how terribly embarrassed they both were after that. It was a situation with so much potential. Throughout the whole story... well, there were some scenes that really touched me. And I was interested in what was going on, and emotionally involved. It was a book I never thought to DNF.
At the same time - I don't know, something about the writing felt off for me. I can't say exactly what but the thing was I noticed it. Usually when I'm involved in a story I don't notice how it is written, I'm just inside it. Here I was kinda stumbling over the writing style. And then some scenes felt too rushed but some were dragging. And what about all those friends? Oh, I see, there are separate books about them. Too bad I still couldn't memorize which one of them was which.
I really liked Ryan. He was the character I understood and sympathized with fully. And the most touching scenes in the book were about him, like when he's talking to Joey.
Graham, on the other hand... he was appearing as more and more of a jerk as the story progressed. Until the pinnacle of his assholishness - the "goodbye sex" scene. Honestly, if someone did a thing like this to me, I'd spit in his face. Literally. Okay, he apologized many times after that but it still didn't make me like him.
All in all, it felt like I could have liked the story much more if some things were a bit different. As it is, I'm not going to read the sequel, which is saying something.
February 4, 2017
Una sorpresa agradable del KU. Me ha gustado como narra el autor pero Graham me ha fastidiado la novela, tiene dos tortas.
January 12, 2017
3 1/2 stars. Graham never intends to move on after the death of his military husband. Before his last deployment, Joey (his husband) made Graham promise to move on with his life if anything ever happened to Joey. Graham remembered that promise but still 6 years later, could not move on.
It was just that, slowly, I'd found ways to handle the hurt. To live with it. To grow around it, until it was like this nest that I was cradling in my branches, this pristine reminder of what I'd lost long after the birds had flown away. Maybe I should have tried to dislodge it, but how could I? That was all I had left of Joey, in some ways.
Ryan was Joey's much younger brother. Joey was the perfect one. Ryan was not, Ryan had been in New York for years.
When these two met away from their usual worlds, there was an explosion of lust. They did not realize their family connection.
Words were supposed to be coming out of my mouth right now. I was supposed to say something normal here, like "Hello," or "Nice to see you again," or anything really, other than the only phrase that I ould think of - "I just gave you a hand job in a parking lot 20 minutes ago, how are you enjoying my mom's coffee?"
The story kept me reading. Ryan was a wonderful sexy character. I loved him and his tattoos. He turned Graham's world upside down and spun him around. Graham fought his feelings. He felt he was betraying Joey. He was afraid being with Ryan would make Ryan's relationship with his parents even more strained. Graham and Ryan were hot together.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that denying what you really want doesn't lead anywhere good.
I didn't understand why we never really met Graham's Dad. I would like to have experienced Graham's interaction with his own family.
I really liked the free short story that gave a delightful end to this story. My first read by this author. I will check out others.
It was just that, slowly, I'd found ways to handle the hurt. To live with it. To grow around it, until it was like this nest that I was cradling in my branches, this pristine reminder of what I'd lost long after the birds had flown away. Maybe I should have tried to dislodge it, but how could I? That was all I had left of Joey, in some ways.
Ryan was Joey's much younger brother. Joey was the perfect one. Ryan was not, Ryan had been in New York for years.
When these two met away from their usual worlds, there was an explosion of lust. They did not realize their family connection.
Words were supposed to be coming out of my mouth right now. I was supposed to say something normal here, like "Hello," or "Nice to see you again," or anything really, other than the only phrase that I ould think of - "I just gave you a hand job in a parking lot 20 minutes ago, how are you enjoying my mom's coffee?"
The story kept me reading. Ryan was a wonderful sexy character. I loved him and his tattoos. He turned Graham's world upside down and spun him around. Graham fought his feelings. He felt he was betraying Joey. He was afraid being with Ryan would make Ryan's relationship with his parents even more strained. Graham and Ryan were hot together.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that denying what you really want doesn't lead anywhere good.
I didn't understand why we never really met Graham's Dad. I would like to have experienced Graham's interaction with his own family.
I really liked the free short story that gave a delightful end to this story. My first read by this author. I will check out others.
Want to read
March 11, 2019💝FREE on Amazon today (3/11/2019)!💝
Blurb:
They say it’s better to have loved and lost. They have no idea what they’re talking about…
Police officer Graham Andersen already had his happy ending. A whirlwind romance, a young marriage, more happiness than he knew what to do with. And then it was over, almost as soon as it began.
After his husband Joey died, Graham knew he’d never find that kind of love again. But what he’d had with Joey was more than some people ever get in life. He’d had his chance at happiness. He couldn’t ask for more.
“Another night, another lifetime, and I would have said yes. But not tonight. Not anymore.”
When chef Ryan Gallagher is swindled out of his savings right before he can open his restaurant, it almost seems right. One more failure for his long list, one more way he’ll never measure up to his older brother. Joey might be gone, but he still finds a way to overshadow Ryan.
With no money and no prospects, Ryan has no choice but to move home to the family that rejected him and his sexuality. But when he goes out to the local bar one winter night, he never dreams the hot guy he’s hitting on used to be his brother’s husband.
“Please, can we just pretend this never happened? I had no idea who you were when I met you.”
Both men insist that they’re not interested. And yet neither can resist the desire they feel. But relationships require love, love requires risk, and both Graham and Ryan know this life offers no guarantees. After a long winter in both their hearts, are they finally ready for spring?
Blurb:
They say it’s better to have loved and lost. They have no idea what they’re talking about…
Police officer Graham Andersen already had his happy ending. A whirlwind romance, a young marriage, more happiness than he knew what to do with. And then it was over, almost as soon as it began.
After his husband Joey died, Graham knew he’d never find that kind of love again. But what he’d had with Joey was more than some people ever get in life. He’d had his chance at happiness. He couldn’t ask for more.
“Another night, another lifetime, and I would have said yes. But not tonight. Not anymore.”
When chef Ryan Gallagher is swindled out of his savings right before he can open his restaurant, it almost seems right. One more failure for his long list, one more way he’ll never measure up to his older brother. Joey might be gone, but he still finds a way to overshadow Ryan.
With no money and no prospects, Ryan has no choice but to move home to the family that rejected him and his sexuality. But when he goes out to the local bar one winter night, he never dreams the hot guy he’s hitting on used to be his brother’s husband.
“Please, can we just pretend this never happened? I had no idea who you were when I met you.”
Both men insist that they’re not interested. And yet neither can resist the desire they feel. But relationships require love, love requires risk, and both Graham and Ryan know this life offers no guarantees. After a long winter in both their hearts, are they finally ready for spring?
February 12, 2017
4 stars – Sugar Season is my first exposure to Spencer Spears, and considering I picked the book up as a release-week cheapie a few weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised by it. Granted, the set-up for the story made most of the internal conflicts the characters had quite a bit predictable, but the trope was handled in a way that kept it from being cheesy, so it was well worth the read.
Five years prior to the start of the story, Graham Andersen’s husband, Joey, was killed while serving in the military. Now at thirty-ish, Graham hasn’t so much as thought of dating again. But on his annual trip to visit his in-laws for his husband’s birthday, he takes up an offer from an attractive man he meets at a bar. The problem is that unbeknownst to either of them, the man is Joey’s younger brother, Ryan Gallagher.
As I suggested earlier, Graham’s internal struggle is straightforward and predictable: he feels guilty at the thought of tarnishing the memory of what he had with Joey by being with anyone else. Ryan’s reaction is also easy to guess, but on top of that, he has always been the younger sibling who could never live up to the unreachable standard set by his older brother. Because of this, Ryan misinterprets Graham’s apprehension, which makes him hot-and-cold toward building anything with Ryan for most of the book, as coming from yet another person who makes Ryan feel he’s not as good as Joey.
I felt sorry for both of the characters and wanted things to work out between them, and that goes a long way toward my positive impression of Sugar Season as a whole, because there are so many ways this story line could have become a constant eye-roll. Instead, this is a smooth and relatively comfortable read that is not at all overdramatized. The only thing that was maybe a little on the cheesy side came from the background plot related to Graham being a police officer. No biggie though.
Oh, and as a special bonus for me in particular, the “podunk” little town in northern Minnesota that houses the opening scene of the novel (Bemidji) happens to the town I was born and raised in before moving away at 24. In case you’re wondering, there is no place called The Tap Room there. But even so, it was a fun little side bonus for me. :-)
After reading Sugar Season, I look forward to reading more of this author’s works, and even though it’s at its regular price now, this was certainly a good enough read to make it worth a few dollars.
Follow Me: Reviews by Tammy & Kim | Facebook | Twitter
Five years prior to the start of the story, Graham Andersen’s husband, Joey, was killed while serving in the military. Now at thirty-ish, Graham hasn’t so much as thought of dating again. But on his annual trip to visit his in-laws for his husband’s birthday, he takes up an offer from an attractive man he meets at a bar. The problem is that unbeknownst to either of them, the man is Joey’s younger brother, Ryan Gallagher.
As I suggested earlier, Graham’s internal struggle is straightforward and predictable: he feels guilty at the thought of tarnishing the memory of what he had with Joey by being with anyone else. Ryan’s reaction is also easy to guess, but on top of that, he has always been the younger sibling who could never live up to the unreachable standard set by his older brother. Because of this, Ryan misinterprets Graham’s apprehension, which makes him hot-and-cold toward building anything with Ryan for most of the book, as coming from yet another person who makes Ryan feel he’s not as good as Joey.
I felt sorry for both of the characters and wanted things to work out between them, and that goes a long way toward my positive impression of Sugar Season as a whole, because there are so many ways this story line could have become a constant eye-roll. Instead, this is a smooth and relatively comfortable read that is not at all overdramatized. The only thing that was maybe a little on the cheesy side came from the background plot related to Graham being a police officer. No biggie though.
Oh, and as a special bonus for me in particular, the “podunk” little town in northern Minnesota that houses the opening scene of the novel (Bemidji) happens to the town I was born and raised in before moving away at 24. In case you’re wondering, there is no place called The Tap Room there. But even so, it was a fun little side bonus for me. :-)
After reading Sugar Season, I look forward to reading more of this author’s works, and even though it’s at its regular price now, this was certainly a good enough read to make it worth a few dollars.
Follow Me: Reviews by Tammy & Kim | Facebook | Twitter
January 16, 2017
This was surprisingly not bad. I've never read this author before and I have not read the 1st two books in this series. You don't need to to read them to read this one.
Graham lost his husband 5 years ago but still wears his wedding ring and does not date or hook up. He's devoted to his memory. Every year on Joey's birthday (his dead hisband) Graham drives to Joey's parents house, has dinner with them, and visits Joey's grave. Joey's mother is not accepting of homosexuality and never approved of their relationship but includes Graham because she knows Joey loved him. It doesn't stop her from being rude and blunt about her beliefs.
Ryan is Joey's brother and he has a lot of issues with his mother. He feels like a fuck up and a failure and like he was never able to live up to Joey and still can't. He's home after a failed situation and has not seen Graham in 5 years. A chance meeting in a bar brings them together but they don't who the other one is. (That part was a little hard to believe even though it's explained as It's been too long and they've changed so much). There is a rushed hook up and they part ways. They reconnect at Ryan's home and realize who they other one is and then the cat and mouse game begins.
Graham pushes and Ryan pulls and yet they seem to get nowhere. Graham feels like he is betraying Joey in more ways than one and Ryan feels like he will never measure up to his brother again. There is the issue of Ryans mother in between everything else going on with them. Through it all they fall in love but they are on and off throughout the whole book because of all their internal issues. There are breakthroughs with family and within them and it's the catalyst in healing parts of them.
There is a HEA and there are sexy times and the book flows fairly well. I mean this is not epic or anything but it's a good solid love story with a feel good result.
Graham lost his husband 5 years ago but still wears his wedding ring and does not date or hook up. He's devoted to his memory. Every year on Joey's birthday (his dead hisband) Graham drives to Joey's parents house, has dinner with them, and visits Joey's grave. Joey's mother is not accepting of homosexuality and never approved of their relationship but includes Graham because she knows Joey loved him. It doesn't stop her from being rude and blunt about her beliefs.
Ryan is Joey's brother and he has a lot of issues with his mother. He feels like a fuck up and a failure and like he was never able to live up to Joey and still can't. He's home after a failed situation and has not seen Graham in 5 years. A chance meeting in a bar brings them together but they don't who the other one is. (That part was a little hard to believe even though it's explained as It's been too long and they've changed so much). There is a rushed hook up and they part ways. They reconnect at Ryan's home and realize who they other one is and then the cat and mouse game begins.
Graham pushes and Ryan pulls and yet they seem to get nowhere. Graham feels like he is betraying Joey in more ways than one and Ryan feels like he will never measure up to his brother again. There is the issue of Ryans mother in between everything else going on with them. Through it all they fall in love but they are on and off throughout the whole book because of all their internal issues. There are breakthroughs with family and within them and it's the catalyst in healing parts of them.
There is a HEA and there are sexy times and the book flows fairly well. I mean this is not epic or anything but it's a good solid love story with a feel good result.
January 5, 2017
2.5 rounded up.
This one didn't work that well for me. I did not dislike it, but there just wasn't a lot to keep my attention.
I don't usually have a problem suspending disbelief, especially if the chemistry or plot make up for it. It was hard for me to believe that Graham and Ryan did not recognize each other.
Graham's guilt and protests over moving on after his husband's death felt a little forced. It seemed he felt like he should be conflicted rather than actually being conflicted.
I just wanted a little more depth. I think I'll give the author's next book a try before deciding. This one wasn't enough to deter me, but also not enough to win me over.
This one didn't work that well for me. I did not dislike it, but there just wasn't a lot to keep my attention.
I don't usually have a problem suspending disbelief, especially if the chemistry or plot make up for it. It was hard for me to believe that Graham and Ryan did not recognize each other.
Graham's guilt and protests over moving on after his husband's death felt a little forced. It seemed he felt like he should be conflicted rather than actually being conflicted.
I just wanted a little more depth. I think I'll give the author's next book a try before deciding. This one wasn't enough to deter me, but also not enough to win me over.
January 12, 2017
Just okay.
I really liked Ryan. He was just so sweet and funny.d I also thought the bar scene and first meet at Ryan's parents' house was hilarious. Unfortunately, for me that's where the humor ended. I cannot imagine the grief that comes with losing a spouse, but making that the sole, never ending issue until the last chapter was too much for me. Also, Graham's feelings about what the rest of his life were supposed to be like really had no basis except in his head. It was so frustrating that I wished Ryan would just walk away. This story didn't feel like a love story to me but rather about a love lost. Oh, and if Graham was still grieving so deeply, why were there no pictures of him and Joey, or anything personal to their marriage in Graham's home. I kept expecting Ryan to see signs of Graham's life with Joey, but there was nothing concrete, just what was in Graham's head and his wedding ring. Didn't make sense with the undying love portrayed to not have anything in your home that reflected that love.
I really liked Ryan. He was just so sweet and funny.d I also thought the bar scene and first meet at Ryan's parents' house was hilarious. Unfortunately, for me that's where the humor ended. I cannot imagine the grief that comes with losing a spouse, but making that the sole, never ending issue until the last chapter was too much for me. Also, Graham's feelings about what the rest of his life were supposed to be like really had no basis except in his head. It was so frustrating that I wished Ryan would just walk away. This story didn't feel like a love story to me but rather about a love lost. Oh, and if Graham was still grieving so deeply, why were there no pictures of him and Joey, or anything personal to their marriage in Graham's home. I kept expecting Ryan to see signs of Graham's life with Joey, but there was nothing concrete, just what was in Graham's head and his wedding ring. Didn't make sense with the undying love portrayed to not have anything in your home that reflected that love.
March 16, 2017
3.5 Hearts
First I want to say huge KUDOS to the author of this story. I had no idea…not one that this was a part 3 in a series. It read like a true standalone and while it did weave other characters in and out of the main characters lives I never felt like I was missing something. Needless to say I was surprised when I looked on Amazon and saw this was a book 3, I only ever went to Goodreads prior to reading the story. So, readers keep in mind this is a standalone but part of a series.
With that said, this was pretty good and while I wasn’t blown away with the story I did like it. I found some parts dragged and the inner monologue went on and on at times. I also got quite frustrated with Graham and his whole inner turmoil thing. I just thought it was a bit too much but again I liked the story and the characters.
Widow Graham Andersen takes duty very seriously. Having lost his husband years prior he still feels obligated to visit his late husband’s parents every year. What starts out as an uneventful trip turns into a steamy hookup with a stranger in a bar.
As these things tend to go the stranger turns out to be the estranged younger brother of Graham’s deceased husband. And the chemistry that ignites between the two is palpable and undeniable no matter how badly Graham wants to ignore it.
The push/pull between Graham and Ryan is ever-present throughout the story. Graham has been celibate since he lost his husband in is still essentially mourning the loss. Believing his one chance at love has come and gone.
Quite a bit transpires to get these two at HFN but like I mentioned it was sweet with a little predictable mystery thrown in.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
First I want to say huge KUDOS to the author of this story. I had no idea…not one that this was a part 3 in a series. It read like a true standalone and while it did weave other characters in and out of the main characters lives I never felt like I was missing something. Needless to say I was surprised when I looked on Amazon and saw this was a book 3, I only ever went to Goodreads prior to reading the story. So, readers keep in mind this is a standalone but part of a series.
With that said, this was pretty good and while I wasn’t blown away with the story I did like it. I found some parts dragged and the inner monologue went on and on at times. I also got quite frustrated with Graham and his whole inner turmoil thing. I just thought it was a bit too much but again I liked the story and the characters.
Widow Graham Andersen takes duty very seriously. Having lost his husband years prior he still feels obligated to visit his late husband’s parents every year. What starts out as an uneventful trip turns into a steamy hookup with a stranger in a bar.
As these things tend to go the stranger turns out to be the estranged younger brother of Graham’s deceased husband. And the chemistry that ignites between the two is palpable and undeniable no matter how badly Graham wants to ignore it.
The push/pull between Graham and Ryan is ever-present throughout the story. Graham has been celibate since he lost his husband in is still essentially mourning the loss. Believing his one chance at love has come and gone.
Quite a bit transpires to get these two at HFN but like I mentioned it was sweet with a little predictable mystery thrown in.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
February 8, 2017
Review originally posted on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange :)
I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Let's go :D
The Story
Graham lost his husband Joey five years ago and never quite recovered from the experience. He knew he should be grateful for having at least a handful of years next to the man of his life, but the memories had been too much for Graham. How was he supposed to move on when he didn’t have the courage to take his ring off? When he had to drive to Joey’s parents once a year for a depressing and heart shattering ritual?
More importantly: why won’t people allow Graham to suffer alone? The only man he wants is Joey – no one else will do.
Ryan lost his elder perfect brother five years ago and never quite recovered from the experience. After a lifetime of resentment towards Joey, wishing every day for the guy to vanish within air and put an end to their mother’s comparisons, Ryan suddenly saw his wishes coming true in an awful and heart breaking way. Despite knowing that he hadn’t caused the war Joey had been fighting in when he died, Ryan feels responsible for his death. To help matters, Ryan just lost all his money to a con man in New York and was forced to move back in with his parents, enduring twice more the comparisons from his mother.
All Ryan wants is some perspective in life and a minute without listening to any kind of critic to his looks or his choices.
Graham and Ryan worlds’ collide when both men decide to stray from their regular modus operandi and make out in the parking lot of a highway bar. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything… Until they discover just how related they are.
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader :)
Sugar Season was a perfect sugared [haha] gay romance. The characters are well developed and complex, the plot is awesome with some twists to keep the reader in the edge, the cover is so HOT, the harmony between comedy and drama was just right… Seriously, there is no way in hell I’m giving this book less than five stars!
The narrative was first person style – I KNOW, FIVE STARS TO A FIRST PERSON NARRATED BOOK! Do you see how wonderful it is? Haha! – with exchanging points of view between Graham and Ryan. I did like both men on command of the story and I’m amazed to see how I wouldn’t even need the labels on the beginning of each chapter to know whose head I was in. Seriously, Spears did a fantastic job and I can’t wait to read his other books that I have on my e-reader!!
The plot was quite elaborated for a romance and the themes were quite heavy, if you ask me, haha!Which you kind of indirectly did, if you’re reading this review? Hmm, I’ll have to analyze this better later… There was a mystery behind all the romance – nothing too complex, as it isn’t the main thing on the book, but not that silly either – and the whole social taboo was enough to serve us with the rest. We had dramatic and funny moments wrapped up on family issues, on grieving and hot steamy sex, haha!
The characters, as I spoiled, are great. ALL OF THEM. It’s amazing how Spears builds her characters inside her readers’ heads without an effort, revealing small things here and there that only added into the mix instead of handling us a metaphorical file for them in the beginning of the book and never saying anything else about them later. Also, I liked how this book bordered instalove, but, at the same, it firmly wasn’t instalove – not for my standards, anyway?
Also, I have to talk about the feelings in this book. Every emotion is so true, so pure and so raw that I caught myself tearing up a bit in several scenes – especially the ones involving Graham’s feelings for Joey – and actively talking to Ryan when he was being too much of a dumb head, haha! Oh, but my favorite from all times is Adam. He is SO ME.
Oh, and did I mentioned that this book is full of sex? Because it is. And what surprised me the most was all the emotion involved in every act between Graham and Ryan. From a simple kiss to playing on the bedroom – or in a broom closet #truestory – it was all perfect and without a single drop of vulgarity. Spears treats sex as a part of us and OMG, it is so right!The fact that I’m crazy about gay couples is just a small detail.
AAAAND can we just take a moment to appreciate this woooonderful cover? <3 <3 Thank you.
The beauty of life is that you don’t have to believe me when I say the book is #goals for gay romance. Yup, it’s exactly what you’re thinking: QUOTING TIME!
Killer dialogues:
~*~
If you’re into gay romance, mystery, sugared romances, drama and wonderfully written books, Sugar Season must be your next read <3
That’s it! Thanks so much for reading my review and thanks to Spencer Spears once again for sending me a copy of the book <3 <3 I’m already a fan, haha!
I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Let's go :D
The Story
Graham lost his husband Joey five years ago and never quite recovered from the experience. He knew he should be grateful for having at least a handful of years next to the man of his life, but the memories had been too much for Graham. How was he supposed to move on when he didn’t have the courage to take his ring off? When he had to drive to Joey’s parents once a year for a depressing and heart shattering ritual?
More importantly: why won’t people allow Graham to suffer alone? The only man he wants is Joey – no one else will do.
Ryan lost his elder perfect brother five years ago and never quite recovered from the experience. After a lifetime of resentment towards Joey, wishing every day for the guy to vanish within air and put an end to their mother’s comparisons, Ryan suddenly saw his wishes coming true in an awful and heart breaking way. Despite knowing that he hadn’t caused the war Joey had been fighting in when he died, Ryan feels responsible for his death. To help matters, Ryan just lost all his money to a con man in New York and was forced to move back in with his parents, enduring twice more the comparisons from his mother.
All Ryan wants is some perspective in life and a minute without listening to any kind of critic to his looks or his choices.
Graham and Ryan worlds’ collide when both men decide to stray from their regular modus operandi and make out in the parking lot of a highway bar. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything… Until they discover just how related they are.
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader :)
Sugar Season was a perfect sugared [haha] gay romance. The characters are well developed and complex, the plot is awesome with some twists to keep the reader in the edge, the cover is so HOT, the harmony between comedy and drama was just right… Seriously, there is no way in hell I’m giving this book less than five stars!
The narrative was first person style – I KNOW, FIVE STARS TO A FIRST PERSON NARRATED BOOK! Do you see how wonderful it is? Haha! – with exchanging points of view between Graham and Ryan. I did like both men on command of the story and I’m amazed to see how I wouldn’t even need the labels on the beginning of each chapter to know whose head I was in. Seriously, Spears did a fantastic job and I can’t wait to read his other books that I have on my e-reader!!
The plot was quite elaborated for a romance and the themes were quite heavy, if you ask me, haha!
The characters, as I spoiled, are great. ALL OF THEM. It’s amazing how Spears builds her characters inside her readers’ heads without an effort, revealing small things here and there that only added into the mix instead of handling us a metaphorical file for them in the beginning of the book and never saying anything else about them later. Also, I liked how this book bordered instalove, but, at the same, it firmly wasn’t instalove – not for my standards, anyway?
Also, I have to talk about the feelings in this book. Every emotion is so true, so pure and so raw that I caught myself tearing up a bit in several scenes – especially the ones involving Graham’s feelings for Joey – and actively talking to Ryan when he was being too much of a dumb head, haha! Oh, but my favorite from all times is Adam. He is SO ME.
Oh, and did I mentioned that this book is full of sex? Because it is. And what surprised me the most was all the emotion involved in every act between Graham and Ryan. From a simple kiss to playing on the bedroom – or in a broom closet #truestory – it was all perfect and without a single drop of vulgarity. Spears treats sex as a part of us and OMG, it is so right!
AAAAND can we just take a moment to appreciate this woooonderful cover? <3 <3 Thank you.
The beauty of life is that you don’t have to believe me when I say the book is #goals for gay romance. Yup, it’s exactly what you’re thinking: QUOTING TIME!
“Stop distracting me from my pity party, there’s more story to tell.” – Ryan
“I am going to monetize the shit out of your heartache.” – Adam
“I’m probably going to feel really dumb in a few seconds, but I had enough tequila that telling you seemed like a good idea.” – Ryan
“A year ago, I’m not sure I remembered what you looked like. Now, I don’t think I’ll ever forget.” – Graham
“If I said it with words, there would be questions. If I said it with words, it would get more complicated than I knew how to handle.” - Graham
Killer dialogues:
Graham: I’m, uh – Flattered, I guess. But look, I’m not really looking for anything, I just came in here to-
Ryan: Sit in silence and sexily nurse a beer while you brood over your troubles?
Graham: I wouldn’t have put it that way.
Ryan: Someday, you’re going to have to get a life of your own, you know.
Adam: Can’t make me.
~*~
If you’re into gay romance, mystery, sugared romances, drama and wonderfully written books, Sugar Season must be your next read <3
That’s it! Thanks so much for reading my review and thanks to Spencer Spears once again for sending me a copy of the book <3 <3 I’m already a fan, haha!
Read
August 30, 2019DNF. Miałam nieodparte wrażenie, że czytam hetero romans, tylko dla niepoznaki bohaterki mają męskie imiona i wygląd. Scena erotyczna była fanfikowo zabawna.
Mustard była spoko, ale Mustard jest psem.
Mustard była spoko, ale Mustard jest psem.
February 9, 2017
I was in the mood for a little brain bleach. A nice little book that I could read that wasn't too heavy, one I could just let myself float away on. Sugar Season was filling that need until about 63% in and then it kinda got on the silly train. I like both main characters and I thought the mystery was a cute little thing but it was just a little bit too cute and predictable. Graham and Ryan were just so hot and cold with each other it became annoying. I would I would have preferred to get a little bit deeper into the whole people living on the reservation or the Native American thing that would've been really cool and given the whole thing some weight and structure. Even lite-reads need some substance.
January 16, 2017
Imagine receiving the notification that your husband was killed while serving his country. You have to somehow put the pieces back together and go on living. The grief isn't as fresh, your smiles aren't as bright and grief and pain linger in your eyes. For Graham, this nightmare is all too real.
Almost six years into his grief, Graham is shocked when his body starts awakening. He feels attraction to a man for the first time since Joey died. What really shocks Graham is this isn't just any man but his dead husband's younger brother.
Graham runs hot and cold with Ryan. Lust drives him to pull Ryan close and to let him in. Guilt causes him to push Ryan away. Ryan is different from Joey. He is physicallly smaller, never went to college, and has a thing for tattoos and piercings. He has fought hard against himself and his parents to be noticed and accepted for himself and to break free from Joey's shadow.
Graham's hot/cold act really hurts Ryan and made this reader want to scream get some grief counseling. The mystery in this one should not have been included. It plays a minor role. The main focus is Graham and Ryan. The robberies were unnecessary. All in all this isn't a bad book and worth reading.
Almost six years into his grief, Graham is shocked when his body starts awakening. He feels attraction to a man for the first time since Joey died. What really shocks Graham is this isn't just any man but his dead husband's younger brother.
Graham runs hot and cold with Ryan. Lust drives him to pull Ryan close and to let him in. Guilt causes him to push Ryan away. Ryan is different from Joey. He is physicallly smaller, never went to college, and has a thing for tattoos and piercings. He has fought hard against himself and his parents to be noticed and accepted for himself and to break free from Joey's shadow.
Graham's hot/cold act really hurts Ryan and made this reader want to scream get some grief counseling. The mystery in this one should not have been included. It plays a minor role. The main focus is Graham and Ryan. The robberies were unnecessary. All in all this isn't a bad book and worth reading.
December 30, 2016
2.5 Stars
This is the third book from this author that I've read and I've liked each one a little better than the last.
Sugar Season is the sweet, simple story of Graham and Ryan. Graham is a police officer who lost his soldier husband, Joey, over 5 years ago. Ryan is Joey's younger brother. I liked the characters and honestly this should have been a very emotional story line. Somehow it just never fully touched my emotions. I'm truly at a loss how to explain my apathy. I want to say something was missing except, I actually feel that we were just told too much, too soon. Every thought, explained, every action, explained, every reaction, explained. Rinse and repeat. Furthermore, I knew the perpetrator of the 'crime spree' from the beginning. For me it was just too simple.
I also must say that this could be a case of "it's me not it"...
However, all of that said I did like the characters and the story did hold my attention so I've rounded up to a 3 star instead of down.
I was given an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is the third book from this author that I've read and I've liked each one a little better than the last.
Sugar Season is the sweet, simple story of Graham and Ryan. Graham is a police officer who lost his soldier husband, Joey, over 5 years ago. Ryan is Joey's younger brother. I liked the characters and honestly this should have been a very emotional story line. Somehow it just never fully touched my emotions. I'm truly at a loss how to explain my apathy. I want to say something was missing except, I actually feel that we were just told too much, too soon. Every thought, explained, every action, explained, every reaction, explained. Rinse and repeat. Furthermore, I knew the perpetrator of the 'crime spree' from the beginning. For me it was just too simple.
I also must say that this could be a case of "it's me not it"...
However, all of that said I did like the characters and the story did hold my attention so I've rounded up to a 3 star instead of down.
I was given an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 9, 2017
“This is the last time you’ll taste him, I told myself. The last time you’ll feel him run his fingers along your neck. The last time you’ll hear him call out your name. The last time he’ll think of you when he comes. Make it count.”
After the first few chapters I was sure I would never finish this story..! But I'm glad I did, because it was such a sweet one.
January 10, 2017
I almost didn't read this book because I saw a few negative reviews. However, I liked the synopsis so I wanted to read it and I'm glad I did. I will agree the person behind the break-ins and vandalism was obvious but that didn't bother me. If I wanted to read a mystery novel, I would have read a mystery novel. This was a romance story. Although I was on the fence about Graham being attracted to his dead husband's brother, it was still a good story filled with romance and hot sex scenes. It would have been nice to see Ryan's parents' reactions.
Correction: I just read Ryan's parents' reactions in the bonus chapter and I was surprised at how accepting and nonchalant his dad was.
Correction: I just read Ryan's parents' reactions in the bonus chapter and I was surprised at how accepting and nonchalant his dad was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2019
I liked the premises of this book. There's something that just calls to me whit characters finding love again after the death of their spouses. But ugh, I just wanted to smack Graham sometimes. I mean, I understand grief, but make up your mind, dude, and stop leading poor Ryan on...
Ok, rants apart, this was a well written, nice book to read.
Ok, rants apart, this was a well written, nice book to read.
March 14, 2019
Entertaining, engaging read. I enjoyed it...and bonus...It's FREE through tomorrow!
January 19, 2017
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
3.5 Stars
Spencer Spears is a new author to me and one I will definitely return to.
Sugar Season is a bittersweet romance that follows an awkward quick hook up and drops two men into the middle of something that neither know how to navigate. Ryan is a very easy character to like and I found myself rooting for him from the start – there was always just that glimpse of vulnerability that made you want to stand in his corner. Graham was a more difficult character to like due mainly to the guilt he felt from moving on 5 years after his husband had died – his second guessing was painful after a while when it led to some pretty poor treatment of Ryan.
Sugar Season is set in a small town and has a myriad of secondary characters that were written as though I should know them. Although this book isn’t part of a series there are previous books by this author set in the same town introducing you to the couples that appear here. Had I known this prior to starting Sugar Season I would have read those first as I felt as though I had missed something and was curious about everyone’s background.
This story had an interesting premise and not one that I had come across before. The writing for the most part flows, the characters are interesting and there is a small crime mystery to be solved. I felt the story lost its way a bit around 40%, muddled through until about 65% and then picked up its pacing once again. We never found out what Ryan’s parents thought, which was a shame, as they and especially his mother’s opinion had shaped Ryan into who he was and how he acted and their bigotry had also previously affected Graham.
3.5 Stars
Spencer Spears is a new author to me and one I will definitely return to.
Sugar Season is a bittersweet romance that follows an awkward quick hook up and drops two men into the middle of something that neither know how to navigate. Ryan is a very easy character to like and I found myself rooting for him from the start – there was always just that glimpse of vulnerability that made you want to stand in his corner. Graham was a more difficult character to like due mainly to the guilt he felt from moving on 5 years after his husband had died – his second guessing was painful after a while when it led to some pretty poor treatment of Ryan.
Sugar Season is set in a small town and has a myriad of secondary characters that were written as though I should know them. Although this book isn’t part of a series there are previous books by this author set in the same town introducing you to the couples that appear here. Had I known this prior to starting Sugar Season I would have read those first as I felt as though I had missed something and was curious about everyone’s background.
This story had an interesting premise and not one that I had come across before. The writing for the most part flows, the characters are interesting and there is a small crime mystery to be solved. I felt the story lost its way a bit around 40%, muddled through until about 65% and then picked up its pacing once again. We never found out what Ryan’s parents thought, which was a shame, as they and especially his mother’s opinion had shaped Ryan into who he was and how he acted and their bigotry had also previously affected Graham.
January 7, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Sugar Season by Spencer Spears is the first book I've read by this author and I loved it! Loved it!
So what's it about? Graham Andersen is a police officer and has been a devoted widower for the past 5 years. By devoted I mean he has no desire to move on to another relationship believing Joey, his late husband, was the love of his life. No need to look any further. In fact he still wears his wedding ring. After 5 years!! Every year on the eve of his late husband's birthday he makes a trek to his in laws where he has dinner with them, spends the night in Joey's childhood bedroom so they can all visit Joey's gravesite the next day. Oh joy!
This year Graham changes things up a bit by stopping at a bar first. A young stranger at the bar starts flirting with him and they have an "encounter" in the parking lot. They never exchange names or any personal info. They part ways amicably thinking they'd never see each other again. When Graham gets to his in laws, well guess who's there? Ryan, his late husband's kid brother. He's no longer a kid! And he looks familiar to Graham. Hmmm. Dark bar. Dark parking lot.
And it just gets better from here. I loved it! The author did a wonderful job of getting me all emotionally wrapped up in this sweet and a little bit angsty love story although at times I wanted to slap some sense into Graham! But that's why I enjoyed this so much. Grrrr! This gets 5 stars from me. I love getting riled up!
Sugar Season by Spencer Spears is the first book I've read by this author and I loved it! Loved it!
So what's it about? Graham Andersen is a police officer and has been a devoted widower for the past 5 years. By devoted I mean he has no desire to move on to another relationship believing Joey, his late husband, was the love of his life. No need to look any further. In fact he still wears his wedding ring. After 5 years!! Every year on the eve of his late husband's birthday he makes a trek to his in laws where he has dinner with them, spends the night in Joey's childhood bedroom so they can all visit Joey's gravesite the next day. Oh joy!
This year Graham changes things up a bit by stopping at a bar first. A young stranger at the bar starts flirting with him and they have an "encounter" in the parking lot. They never exchange names or any personal info. They part ways amicably thinking they'd never see each other again. When Graham gets to his in laws, well guess who's there? Ryan, his late husband's kid brother. He's no longer a kid! And he looks familiar to Graham. Hmmm. Dark bar. Dark parking lot.
And it just gets better from here. I loved it! The author did a wonderful job of getting me all emotionally wrapped up in this sweet and a little bit angsty love story although at times I wanted to slap some sense into Graham! But that's why I enjoyed this so much. Grrrr! This gets 5 stars from me. I love getting riled up!
January 8, 2017
Well, this was a nice surprise :) sweet, steamy, angsty (although a rather gentle angst) tale about a guy falling in love with his dead husbands brother. Although the book was fairly predictable, it moved at a good pace and kept me reading until the end with enough of a side-story to keep it interesting.
August 21, 2024
Having bought the "complete series" version of the four-book series, Maple Falls, which doesn't allow for individual book reviews, I have chosen to use the single-unit books to write my reviews, to which I will point my final review when I complete thebomnibus edition
Book three, Sugar Season, is both longer and slower-paced than the first two books in the Maple Falls quadrilogy, which is needed to cover the story of the widowered husband of a US Marine killed in action by their mid-twenties, and who having accepted that he has loved and lost the one great love of his life, is has been carrying on his single life for a year longer than they had been together and married.
On the way to the annual (and dreaded) pilgrimage to his parents in law to celebrate his late husband's birthday, he meets an attractive young man in a bar and against all of his previous reservations, they have a minor sexual encounter. Imagine his7⁷ horror, finally arriving at his in-laws, to discover that said young man is his dead husband's younger brother. Even worse, he mentions a job opportunity back in his own small town, following a spat between the brother and mother-in-law.
What follows is an intense relationship, complete with teenage crush grown into adult love on the part of Ryan and an equal love (fractured by grieving guilt) on the part of Graham.
i
There is plenty of heated steam between them as feelings grow, together with periods of love angst, as each tries to "forget" the other.
Fortunately, as is usually the case, obstacles are overcome, and love wins through. What is really riveting is the author's excellent way with words, turning what could have been a rater maudlin tale at times, into an amazing story of love turning preconceived ideas of blood relationships (both metaphorical and real) into a long-term happy relationship.
Book three, Sugar Season, is both longer and slower-paced than the first two books in the Maple Falls quadrilogy, which is needed to cover the story of the widowered husband of a US Marine killed in action by their mid-twenties, and who having accepted that he has loved and lost the one great love of his life, is has been carrying on his single life for a year longer than they had been together and married.
On the way to the annual (and dreaded) pilgrimage to his parents in law to celebrate his late husband's birthday, he meets an attractive young man in a bar and against all of his previous reservations, they have a minor sexual encounter. Imagine his7⁷ horror, finally arriving at his in-laws, to discover that said young man is his dead husband's younger brother. Even worse, he mentions a job opportunity back in his own small town, following a spat between the brother and mother-in-law.
What follows is an intense relationship, complete with teenage crush grown into adult love on the part of Ryan and an equal love (fractured by grieving guilt) on the part of Graham.
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There is plenty of heated steam between them as feelings grow, together with periods of love angst, as each tries to "forget" the other.
Fortunately, as is usually the case, obstacles are overcome, and love wins through. What is really riveting is the author's excellent way with words, turning what could have been a rater maudlin tale at times, into an amazing story of love turning preconceived ideas of blood relationships (both metaphorical and real) into a long-term happy relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2017
This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised at how well this book was written, so in all honesty I can say I really enjoyed reading this heartwarming book. What you will find in this book is: a male chef who loses his money in a money scam (Ryan), a grief stricken male police officer (Graham), a homophobic mother, drama, intrigue, twists & turns, mystery, violence, loneliness, sadness, temptation, attraction, passion, heartbreak, guilt, romance, emotional feelings and erotic scenes. I found the story-line to be well thought out and written. The characters have emotional feelings according to the situation they find themselves in. I would recommend this book to people who like to read a well-written M/M Romance with a HEA.
April 16, 2020
Graham lost his husband 5 years ago in Afghanistan and each year on his husband's birthday travels to have dinner with his in laws and visit the graveside together. This is doubly difficult because his husband's parents never really accepted that their oldest son Joey was gay. This trip, Graham slips into a bar for a drink before the visit and meets and young man who runs after him in the parking lot with the wallet he forgot on the bar. While Graham does not date or contemplate ever remarrying, one thing leads to another and after an event in the parking lot, he arrives at his in laws to meet the young man from the bar, Ryan, younger brother to Joey. This is a charming delightful story filled with guilt angst and desire and love.
February 3, 2017
This was actually pretty good. Just a bit angsty, the MCs occasionally acting up and being annoying, but otherwise a good read.
The whole detective side-story I could have done without. I'm not a fan of authors mixing MM with other genres, but it's been kept to a minimum so I could go with it.
I liked the slow build, the inescapable fall and the supporting characters.
The way this novel fits into a series is really confusing when you look into it a bit, but you get the hang of it while reading - the author or publisher really ought to do something about that.
But I liked reading this book so I don't mind spending some time tracking down the other two novels.
The whole detective side-story I could have done without. I'm not a fan of authors mixing MM with other genres, but it's been kept to a minimum so I could go with it.
I liked the slow build, the inescapable fall and the supporting characters.
The way this novel fits into a series is really confusing when you look into it a bit, but you get the hang of it while reading - the author or publisher really ought to do something about that.
But I liked reading this book so I don't mind spending some time tracking down the other two novels.
December 28, 2017
3.5
This has been sitting on my shelf for months now and its good thing i gave it a shot. It's surprisingly a decent (and hot) read . The author presented a very awkward situation for the characters. I love Ryan but Graham not so much because he can't seem to grow a spine and i wanted to bash him in the head a few times. I also like Ryan's friend, Adam. Hope he get his own story. This is the 3rd book in the series but it can be read as stand alone. Characters from the previous books (which i haven't read and not sure if i wanted to) were Graham's friend and made appearances in the story
This has been sitting on my shelf for months now and its good thing i gave it a shot. It's surprisingly a decent (and hot) read . The author presented a very awkward situation for the characters. I love Ryan but Graham not so much because he can't seem to grow a spine and i wanted to bash him in the head a few times. I also like Ryan's friend, Adam. Hope he get his own story. This is the 3rd book in the series but it can be read as stand alone. Characters from the previous books (which i haven't read and not sure if i wanted to) were Graham's friend and made appearances in the story
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