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A Kind of Stories #4
A Kind of Home
A Kind Of Story
Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to superstardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust him, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that Isaac travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. The man is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.
Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.
Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to superstardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust him, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that Isaac travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. The man is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.
Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in uncharted and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2017
54 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Lane Hayes
105 books1,719 followersLane Hayes loves a good romance! She’s the bestselling author of the Out in College, Starting From, Better Than, A Kind Of, Right and Wrong, and Leaning Into Series! Lane loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). All things she can find in sunny SoCal where she lives with her amazing husband in a not quite empty nest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
June 18, 2017
~4.25~
The A Kind of series is kind of special. I've been following Spiral from the very beginning when the guys traveled to New York to make it big. Isaac is Spiral's guitarist, the one who took over for Will.
Isaac has always been all about the music. He doesn't care for fame; he just wants to play and belong. All the guys in the band have someone, but Isaac doesn't let go easily. Following his parents' abandonment and drama, Isaac left his small home town and never looked back.
Then Adam moved in. And when Isaac returns from tour, Adam, all 6 feet something of him, is still there, his red Converse under the coffee table, his stuff strewn around Isaac's space.
Adam, Isaac's childhood crush, is newly divorced and has come to New York to find himself. There's more to the story, of course, but Adam gives up the full truth in bits and pieces.
I loved Isaac and Adam together. They had a strong friendship and knew how to be there for each other. Adam grounds Isaac, and Isaac offers Adam the passion and support he needs. Adam knows what went wrong in his last relationship and doesn't want to make the same mistakes with Isaac.
This is a steamy story with plenty of romance and sweet moments. Adam and Isaac baking together? Gah, that was seriously adorable.
Even as Adam and Isaac grow closer, Isaac is being stalked by his "biggest fan." Said fan posts creepy messages on Spiral's social media accounts, sends flowers, and sneaks into Isaac's apartment (or so Isaac suspects).
The stalker plot has been done before, but it's handled fairly well here. Lane Hayes doesn't do melodrama. The villain isn't really evil, just obsessive and lost. Most readers will figure out the mystery early on, but keeping the audience in suspense is not the point of the story.
It's not about the fear; it's about the TRUST.
When he has nowhere to go, Isaac finds Adam—Adam, with his goofy smile; Adam, who bakes cookies; Adam, who yearns for something real and permanent . . . Isaac can't help but fall.
This was a solid 5 star read for me until the last few chapters. Once the stalker mystery was resolved, the story lost momentum. Isaac pushes Adam away, and Adam just goes.
But these men are magnets drawn together; they find their own kind of home.
P.S. This book can be read as a standalone, but I really loved visiting, however briefly, with the other three couples in the series.
The A Kind of series is kind of special. I've been following Spiral from the very beginning when the guys traveled to New York to make it big. Isaac is Spiral's guitarist, the one who took over for Will.
Isaac has always been all about the music. He doesn't care for fame; he just wants to play and belong. All the guys in the band have someone, but Isaac doesn't let go easily. Following his parents' abandonment and drama, Isaac left his small home town and never looked back.
Then Adam moved in. And when Isaac returns from tour, Adam, all 6 feet something of him, is still there, his red Converse under the coffee table, his stuff strewn around Isaac's space.
Adam, Isaac's childhood crush, is newly divorced and has come to New York to find himself. There's more to the story, of course, but Adam gives up the full truth in bits and pieces.
I loved Isaac and Adam together. They had a strong friendship and knew how to be there for each other. Adam grounds Isaac, and Isaac offers Adam the passion and support he needs. Adam knows what went wrong in his last relationship and doesn't want to make the same mistakes with Isaac.
This is a steamy story with plenty of romance and sweet moments. Adam and Isaac baking together? Gah, that was seriously adorable.
Even as Adam and Isaac grow closer, Isaac is being stalked by his "biggest fan." Said fan posts creepy messages on Spiral's social media accounts, sends flowers, and sneaks into Isaac's apartment (or so Isaac suspects).
The stalker plot has been done before, but it's handled fairly well here. Lane Hayes doesn't do melodrama. The villain isn't really evil, just obsessive and lost. Most readers will figure out the mystery early on, but keeping the audience in suspense is not the point of the story.
It's not about the fear; it's about the TRUST.
When he has nowhere to go, Isaac finds Adam—Adam, with his goofy smile; Adam, who bakes cookies; Adam, who yearns for something real and permanent . . . Isaac can't help but fall.
This was a solid 5 star read for me until the last few chapters. Once the stalker mystery was resolved, the story lost momentum. Isaac pushes Adam away, and Adam just goes.
But these men are magnets drawn together; they find their own kind of home.
P.S. This book can be read as a standalone, but I really loved visiting, however briefly, with the other three couples in the series.
June 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this "friends to lovers" story. Also...... it has a rockstar....big plus for me :P
This book can be read as a stand alone. Even though books 1 and 3 are about the other members of the band, they can all be read as single stories. I myself have read all of them, and I especially liked the books about the band.... Rock star fan right here :P
Isaac is the guitarist for the famous band "Spiral". He really loves being in the band, but lately it hasn't been as much fun as it used to be. he is exhausted from all the tours and a bit concerned, because some crazed creepy fan keeps sending him creepy messages.
All he wants to do when he gets home from his latest tour, is sleep in his own bed and enjoy some private time. So imagine his surprise, when his housesitter/guest, who was only supposed to stay a week, is still in his appartment weeks later, when he gets home.
Adam is the brother of the guy Isaac was best friends with in high school. He is also Isaacs biggest teenage crush. He still very much likes the man and Adam's looks only got better over time, but Isaac has managed to keep his lusty feelings in check...well mostly......because Adam is straight after all.
Adam has recently gotten divorced after staying in a marriage that hadn't been working for years. He is loyal to a fault, but he was also relieved, when his ex wife threw in the towel. Their marriage wasn't the only thing that ended though.....so did his job. Staying with Isaac for the time being to get his his life back in order, seems like a very good plan.
But Adam hasn't been completely honest about himself, and things are about to get complicated (and hot), when the two of them figure out their mutual attraction for one another.
I really liked both MC's a lot. I liked Adam a bit more though. Even though the whole book is in Isaac's pov, it was vey clear to me what Adam was thinking and feeling. I liked the fact, that his failed marriage thought him how important is to communicate.... and he did, he really did. Isaac was a bit more stubborn and it took him a bit longer to completely open up, even to his bandmates.
At the end he still pulled a stunt that made me want to throttle him, but I did understand where he was coming from, and he had the best intentions at heart....
These guys were also very hot together... I especially liked the scene where Adam bottoms for the first time :P
He rode my fingers like a pro while my dick drooled precum against the back of his thigh.
I really enjoyed this one and it's definitely one of my favorites in the series. I have no idea if there will be more, but I hope so ;)
This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession
June 30, 2019
2,5 stars
I'm in the minority here. I'm sorry to rate it only with 2,5 stars rounded down, but as much as I loved the 3 previous books, this one didn't measure to the others.
Lane Hayes is one of my fav authors and I had high expectations. Unfortunately this story wasn't at all what I expected. It felt common, too simple and finally too boring. I kept on reading until 60% and then needed a break. I'm glad I've found another series I absolutely adored and coming back to this one kind of left me wanting more.
I really didn't care about the mystery, the fan who left creepy messages. I guessed from the start who it was.
The romance wasn't that special. Even if friends-to-lovers is a fav trope, here I wanted a lot more.
The writing was light, this one can be read in one sitting, but it got pretty boring for me.
I'm in the minority here. I'm sorry to rate it only with 2,5 stars rounded down, but as much as I loved the 3 previous books, this one didn't measure to the others.
Lane Hayes is one of my fav authors and I had high expectations. Unfortunately this story wasn't at all what I expected. It felt common, too simple and finally too boring. I kept on reading until 60% and then needed a break. I'm glad I've found another series I absolutely adored and coming back to this one kind of left me wanting more.
I really didn't care about the mystery, the fan who left creepy messages. I guessed from the start who it was.
The romance wasn't that special. Even if friends-to-lovers is a fav trope, here I wanted a lot more.
The writing was light, this one can be read in one sitting, but it got pretty boring for me.
September 18, 2018
I just now noticed this on my "Languishing in Limbo" shelf, where I stash the books I've stalled out on but haven't totally given up on -- but I couldn't for the life of me remember anything about it. Turns out I set it aside 6 weeks ago, and when I looked at my status updates it all started to come back to me...
At 10.0%: "Please please please tell me Adam isn't going to be the love interest. He's like what you'd get if a particularly imbecilic golden retriever morphed into a human. God, I hope he turns out to be the crazed stalker instead. And that someone has to shoot him. Yeah... THAT would be better."
Unfortunately, Adam was indeed the love interest.
At 45.0%: "The writing is good, but the MCs are idiots. Charmless idiots with boring lives. I wouldn't mind if they both got run over by a bus."
Okay........ So let's just make this one a DNF. I'm not willing to keep reading in the hope of seeing the MCs get run over or gunned down, because I really doubt the story is going there (more's the pity).
Lane Hayes has been hit or miss for me, and this one was a miss.
At 10.0%: "Please please please tell me Adam isn't going to be the love interest. He's like what you'd get if a particularly imbecilic golden retriever morphed into a human. God, I hope he turns out to be the crazed stalker instead. And that someone has to shoot him. Yeah... THAT would be better."
Unfortunately, Adam was indeed the love interest.
At 45.0%: "The writing is good, but the MCs are idiots. Charmless idiots with boring lives. I wouldn't mind if they both got run over by a bus."
Okay........ So let's just make this one a DNF. I'm not willing to keep reading in the hope of seeing the MCs get run over or gunned down, because I really doubt the story is going there (more's the pity).
Lane Hayes has been hit or miss for me, and this one was a miss.
June 28, 2017
4.5 Stars!
I really liked this one.
But I could have done without the stalker story-line.
And the dumb drama at the end. Really....at 90%?!? I mean we were almost there. *sigh*
I really liked this one.
But I could have done without the stalker story-line.
And the dumb drama at the end. Really....at 90%?!? I mean we were almost there. *sigh*
September 22, 2017
4 hearts!
Once again another fantastic addition to this series! This book was definitely the fluffiest of the series. We had a nice slow friends-to-lovers with some looovveerrrllly sexual tension thrown in, a good solid relationship once they were together without denying or hiding from feelings. And yes it was a teeny tiny bit slow at times, hence the 4 hearts.
So this book follows our lead guitarist of Spiral, Isaac. He is a surprisingly serious man who is stressed with the rock star lifestyle and has a significant lack of family and friends to support him, other than his bandmates.
Luckily for him his high school best friend’s older brother and ex crush crashes at his house and Adam is just adorable! Also Adam literally looks like Superman. Yummy!
Adam was the light of this book. He is such a happy relaxed man and I adored him. He's just gotten divorced and has had to reevaluate how he wants to live his life, which he has and is taking life by the balls! He's loving it and it's just was Isaac needs. Like I said it was a little slow to get started, but these two were super cute!
I actually liked the stalker plot, it wasn't overdone and didn't overturn the romance. The end climax was pretty good too. Adam was fantastic as always!
I don't think there is anymore planned for this series, and if that's the case then this was a good place to end. On a nice fluffy note. Will definitely reread this series over and over!
*****************************************
I'm so excited about this I'm going to go a reread A Kind of Truth, like right now!!!!!
Once again another fantastic addition to this series! This book was definitely the fluffiest of the series. We had a nice slow friends-to-lovers with some looovveerrrllly sexual tension thrown in, a good solid relationship once they were together without denying or hiding from feelings. And yes it was a teeny tiny bit slow at times, hence the 4 hearts.
So this book follows our lead guitarist of Spiral, Isaac. He is a surprisingly serious man who is stressed with the rock star lifestyle and has a significant lack of family and friends to support him, other than his bandmates.
Luckily for him his high school best friend’s older brother and ex crush crashes at his house and Adam is just adorable! Also Adam literally looks like Superman. Yummy!
Adam was the light of this book. He is such a happy relaxed man and I adored him. He's just gotten divorced and has had to reevaluate how he wants to live his life, which he has and is taking life by the balls! He's loving it and it's just was Isaac needs. Like I said it was a little slow to get started, but these two were super cute!
I actually liked the stalker plot, it wasn't overdone and didn't overturn the romance. The end climax was pretty good too. Adam was fantastic as always!
I don't think there is anymore planned for this series, and if that's the case then this was a good place to end. On a nice fluffy note. Will definitely reread this series over and over!
*****************************************
I'm so excited about this I'm going to go a reread A Kind of Truth, like right now!!!!!
June 16, 2017
As per usual Lane Hayes delivered another great story. A Kind of Home is the fourth installment in the A Kind of Stories, and we're finally getting Isaac's HEA. Isaac was the lead guitarist that replaced Will (A Kind of Truth #1) in Spiral. It hasn't exactly been an easy transition for Isaac - going from a regular guy to being front and center in front of the world- mainly due to an overzealous fan. Finally. After he finally gets a break from being on the road and back to his apartment, he comes face to face with his teenage crush, Adam. Isaac decides right off that Adam is off limits and straight but things aren't always what they seem, and the heart wants what the hearts wants...
What didn't work and did work for me.
My big niggle.
So, I'm going to start with I didn't like and why I gave this book four stars instead of five. The stalker subplot which I'll be honest, I'm never a big fan of, and it didn't work for me here. It was weird, weak, and forced. It pains me to type those words on a review for Lane Hayes, but I wish this book had been a strictly friends to lovers plot. It didn't need the subplot, and I found it distracting and a bit disruptive.
What I loved.
-The characters. Isaac whom had a hard time trusting due to his upbringing. And my man Adam- whom to be honest stole the book from Isaac. He was goofy, loving, and loyal. I just loved him to bits.
-The relationship development. This is Lane Hayes' forte. It just always comes across so natural, and it's a joy to read.
-The chemistry. The sexual tension between Isaac and Adam was delicious, and they were explosive together once they gave in to their feelings.
-The end was sweet and left me emotionally satisfied.
Can this be read as a standalone? Technically, yes, but for maximum enjoyment, I think the others should be read.
All in all, this was another winner from Lane Hayes. If you're looking for a rock star romance or friends to lovers tale, definitely give this a go.
4 Delicious Friends to Lovers Stars.
ARC kindly provided to Gay Book Reviews.
June 14, 2017
~3.5 stars~
It took me a while to warm up to this story. Or, rather, to the MCs. Isaac, the lead guitarist for the world-sensation band, Spiral, came across as cynical and bitchy. He let small things aggravate him.
And then there's Adam, who just finished going through a divorce and is Isaac's friend since high school. Adam asked to "get away from it all" and take a trip to NYC to stay in Isaac's place for a week while Spiral was on tour. Except when Isaac gets home from the tour, Adam is still there. Adam comes across as a goofball who doesn't take much seriously, at first.
It's Adam who I really wound up falling for. Isaac retains a good amount of his cynicism and aggravations, while Adam reveals depths to his character that were a pleasant surprise.
The writing, as always with Lane Hayes, is stellar. She's just so smooth with her story-telling. And the UST between these two, especially since Isaac never knew Adam was anything other than straight.
There is also a side-plot here having to do with Isaac having a crazy stalker. While I'm sure most BIG celebrities have brushes with this, it felt a bit contrived, especially the climax.
Honestly, if this had stuck to being a friends-to-lovers story of Isaac and Adam without any other plots or even side characters, this book would've been aces. Even Rand acted like more of a diva than I remember him being. I could've done without him, and I loved him in his book.
Just Isaac and Adam together was awesome. Their relationship felt natural, organic. They were a joy to read about, and I wanted more of just them.
It took me a while to warm up to this story. Or, rather, to the MCs. Isaac, the lead guitarist for the world-sensation band, Spiral, came across as cynical and bitchy. He let small things aggravate him.
"I'm an overachiever who pretends to be laid-back and cool. When things go sideways, I get frustrated."
And then there's Adam, who just finished going through a divorce and is Isaac's friend since high school. Adam asked to "get away from it all" and take a trip to NYC to stay in Isaac's place for a week while Spiral was on tour. Except when Isaac gets home from the tour, Adam is still there. Adam comes across as a goofball who doesn't take much seriously, at first.
It's Adam who I really wound up falling for. Isaac retains a good amount of his cynicism and aggravations, while Adam reveals depths to his character that were a pleasant surprise.
The writing, as always with Lane Hayes, is stellar. She's just so smooth with her story-telling. And the UST between these two, especially since Isaac never knew Adam was anything other than straight.
Adam was familiar and brand-new at the same time.
There is also a side-plot here having to do with Isaac having a crazy stalker. While I'm sure most BIG celebrities have brushes with this, it felt a bit contrived, especially the climax.
Honestly, if this had stuck to being a friends-to-lovers story of Isaac and Adam without any other plots or even side characters, this book would've been aces. Even Rand acted like more of a diva than I remember him being. I could've done without him, and I loved him in his book.
Just Isaac and Adam together was awesome. Their relationship felt natural, organic. They were a joy to read about, and I wanted more of just them.
He was my new beginning who'd been there all along.
February 11, 2018
3.25 stars
I went into this hoping that I would love it as the previous books in the series. This is the first time that I wished we had dual POV while reading this author’s book. She knows her craft when it comes to writing single POV but here I did not enjoy .
Our main Mc is Isaac, and the story is told in his POV, and boy! I found him frustrating, and boring. He was one boring rock star. Other times he was just an asshole to others who didn't deserve it. I tried to understand him and eventually liked him a tiny bit.
Adam, I loved. I loved his humor, he was patient, fun and easy going, I guess that is why they matched with Isaac , he brought life into Isaac’s boring life.
The connection between the two was there and I couldn't deny it. These two had chemistry, and the Sex was hot as usual.
The stalker part was unnecessary.
It was nice catching up with the other couples in this series.
Overall it was ok, I liked it but didn’t love it.
I went into this hoping that I would love it as the previous books in the series. This is the first time that I wished we had dual POV while reading this author’s book. She knows her craft when it comes to writing single POV but here I did not enjoy .
Our main Mc is Isaac, and the story is told in his POV, and boy! I found him frustrating, and boring. He was one boring rock star. Other times he was just an asshole to others who didn't deserve it. I tried to understand him and eventually liked him a tiny bit.
Adam, I loved. I loved his humor, he was patient, fun and easy going, I guess that is why they matched with Isaac , he brought life into Isaac’s boring life.
The connection between the two was there and I couldn't deny it. These two had chemistry, and the Sex was hot as usual.
The stalker part was unnecessary.
It was nice catching up with the other couples in this series.
Overall it was ok, I liked it but didn’t love it.
July 4, 2017
Let's start with the title. I liked it from the start, but when I got to the point where we saw how it was relevant to the story I loved it. It was really fitting and suited the story perfectly.
'A Kind of Home' is a love story between two old friends who reconnect when one of them decides to make a new start in his life. It's not a second chance story though because there was only an unrequited crush in their past that never got anywhere.
This time though there are feelings involved, eventually. Adam and Isaac start with a one-night stand, they continue with a casual arrangement and they end up with a strong and real relationship.
There is some mystery in the plot that was interesting and kept you guessing (mainly between two people, but is was still guessing). What I liked a lot was the fact that it never overshadowed the romance. It was a side plot and not the main event. The solution wasn't unexpected but I wasn't dissapointed by it.
The connection between Adam and Isaac was obvious. They communicated and they really got to know each other again. They helped each other through tough times and they supported each other.
There were funny moments, there were creepy moments, there were sexy moments. At times it dragged a bit and I got lost in what they were saying and couldn't find a reason for some scenes to be there or the purpose of a conversation, so I wouldn't mind if some scenes were missing but I still enjoyed the book a lot.
I hope the series continues with another book but I don't think we were introduced to any future characters here. The last member of the band is straight and has a girlfriend so I don't know if we'll get an M/M story with him, but I sure would like to see how that would go.
Recommended to those who like a little suspense and mystery in their romance.
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
'A Kind of Home' is a love story between two old friends who reconnect when one of them decides to make a new start in his life. It's not a second chance story though because there was only an unrequited crush in their past that never got anywhere.
This time though there are feelings involved, eventually. Adam and Isaac start with a one-night stand, they continue with a casual arrangement and they end up with a strong and real relationship.
There is some mystery in the plot that was interesting and kept you guessing (mainly between two people, but is was still guessing). What I liked a lot was the fact that it never overshadowed the romance. It was a side plot and not the main event. The solution wasn't unexpected but I wasn't dissapointed by it.
The connection between Adam and Isaac was obvious. They communicated and they really got to know each other again. They helped each other through tough times and they supported each other.
There were funny moments, there were creepy moments, there were sexy moments. At times it dragged a bit and I got lost in what they were saying and couldn't find a reason for some scenes to be there or the purpose of a conversation, so I wouldn't mind if some scenes were missing but I still enjoyed the book a lot.
I hope the series continues with another book but I don't think we were introduced to any future characters here. The last member of the band is straight and has a girlfriend so I don't know if we'll get an M/M story with him, but I sure would like to see how that would go.
Recommended to those who like a little suspense and mystery in their romance.
This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *
July 9, 2017
-3.5-
Not my favourite by Hayes, I 'm afraid. I didn't care for the mystery and the romance was meh.
Not my favourite by Hayes, I 'm afraid. I didn't care for the mystery and the romance was meh.
October 12, 2017
4.5 Stars
RTC....
~*~
I really enjoyed this last installment. Isaac, we didn't know too well from the previous books. He was a member in the band and we knew he was as popular as Rand - if not more so - but that was about it, so it was interesting and fun to delve into his story.
Isaac, I found could be frustrating at times, although I understood his tendency to push problems down and not deal with them. I get it, but its still frustrating to read. Other times he was just an asshole to others who didn't deserve it - whether he's had a bad day or something happened to him, what have you - and I was like...dude, calm down. Ultimately I still loved his character, but that doesn't mean I didn't want to hit him upside the head a few times.
I loved Adam, who is Isaac's best friend from from high school's brother, who Isaac had a hero-worship type of crush on. When Adam goes through a divorce and needs some time away, he asks to stay at Isaac's place.
At first Isaac is resistant to him staying at all, as he said he'd only stay a week while Isaac and the band was on tour, but then Adam has to stay a few weeks longer before an apartment becomes available to him, but in that time Isaac kind of changes his mind and doesn't want Adam to leave at all.
Part of it might have to do with a drunken night shared between them - pretty hot, i might add ;) - but that they both avoid after for like a week, and then when they finally DO talk, Isaac is all "we can't do that again, sorry" and haha we all know that doesn't last.
I liked these two together. Adam gave Isaac some perspective, some levity, and was willing to tell Isaac like it is when he needed to be told.
Also, there is a creepy "fan" of Isaac's throughout, and that created a bit of tension - besides the sexual tension *wink wink* - throughout. Who it turned out to be, I was both surprised and not surprised, because the story makes it seem like Isaac thinks its them but he's just being paranoid, and it gives another possibility too, so I was wondering who it could be. Though yeah, the person was just creepy.
Isaac, of course, near the end has a moment of fear and sends Adam away, but not a lot of time passes before he gets his head out of his ass. I would have been a little more huffy, a little more angry, with Isaac when he shows up, but Adam is pretty forgiving, he's even smiling when he sees Isaac. But here I am like "bitch, he broke your heart and sent you out of his life out of irrational fear and you knew it, why aren't you just a little bit angry or resentful?" lol. But that's just me ;)
I do wish we'd had more of the band - Rand goes off on Isaac (rightly so) but we don't really get a follow up of them making up. I just wish they'd hung out with the others more and their story hadn't been....not isolated, but getting there. I expected a lot more interactions with the others, is all.
But I definitely think this a pretty solid installment in the series - don't know if there will be more or not, so this could very well be a great end to it as well :)
RTC....
~*~
I really enjoyed this last installment. Isaac, we didn't know too well from the previous books. He was a member in the band and we knew he was as popular as Rand - if not more so - but that was about it, so it was interesting and fun to delve into his story.
Isaac, I found could be frustrating at times, although I understood his tendency to push problems down and not deal with them. I get it, but its still frustrating to read. Other times he was just an asshole to others who didn't deserve it - whether he's had a bad day or something happened to him, what have you - and I was like...dude, calm down. Ultimately I still loved his character, but that doesn't mean I didn't want to hit him upside the head a few times.
I loved Adam, who is Isaac's best friend from from high school's brother, who Isaac had a hero-worship type of crush on. When Adam goes through a divorce and needs some time away, he asks to stay at Isaac's place.
At first Isaac is resistant to him staying at all, as he said he'd only stay a week while Isaac and the band was on tour, but then Adam has to stay a few weeks longer before an apartment becomes available to him, but in that time Isaac kind of changes his mind and doesn't want Adam to leave at all.
Part of it might have to do with a drunken night shared between them - pretty hot, i might add ;) - but that they both avoid after for like a week, and then when they finally DO talk, Isaac is all "we can't do that again, sorry" and haha we all know that doesn't last.
I liked these two together. Adam gave Isaac some perspective, some levity, and was willing to tell Isaac like it is when he needed to be told.
Also, there is a creepy "fan" of Isaac's throughout, and that created a bit of tension - besides the sexual tension *wink wink* - throughout. Who it turned out to be, I was both surprised and not surprised, because the story makes it seem like Isaac thinks its them but he's just being paranoid, and it gives another possibility too, so I was wondering who it could be. Though yeah, the person was just creepy.
Isaac, of course, near the end has a moment of fear and sends Adam away, but not a lot of time passes before he gets his head out of his ass. I would have been a little more huffy, a little more angry, with Isaac when he shows up, but Adam is pretty forgiving, he's even smiling when he sees Isaac. But here I am like "bitch, he broke your heart and sent you out of his life out of irrational fear and you knew it, why aren't you just a little bit angry or resentful?" lol. But that's just me ;)
I do wish we'd had more of the band - Rand goes off on Isaac (rightly so) but we don't really get a follow up of them making up. I just wish they'd hung out with the others more and their story hadn't been....not isolated, but getting there. I expected a lot more interactions with the others, is all.
But I definitely think this a pretty solid installment in the series - don't know if there will be more or not, so this could very well be a great end to it as well :)
June 19, 2017
4.5 stars – For some reason, I didn’t realize until shortly before the release of A Kind of Home that Lane Hayes had planned to write a fourth book in the series that contains my favorite book of 2016, A Kind of Romance. I like happy surprises! I also liked (loved, to be honest) the fact that this book looked to match my love for the earlier novel as well, but then the ending of this rock-star story sounded a little off key to me. Just a little, mind you, but it was just enough to keep me from quite reaching the beautiful place that my short list of all-time favorites achieves.
This time, the focus is on the lead guitarist of the mega-popular band Spiral, Isaac Dalton. After finishing an international leg of their latest world tour, Isaac is ready for a break, especially since it’s not just the seemingly endless tour schedule that’s exhausting him. Lately, a particularly creepy fan has unwillingly forced him to have a round-the-clock bodyguard that drives him crazy. And coming home to find the hot older brother of his best friend from back home still living in Isaac’s apartment three months after the one week he was supposed to be crashing there just adds to the stress. Adam McBride may be Isaac’s first big crush and recently divorced, but that doesn’t change the fact that the guy is straight and off-limits for more reasons than just that. It turns out, though, that Adam is more than Isaac thought. He’s still built like the star athlete he was back home, but his passions have changed since his divorce—he’s traded his hammer and nails for cookies and a spatula, for one. And that’s not the only thing that’s changed. When the mutually beneficial living arrangement turns into an undeniable attraction, acting upon it puts both men in a place they’ve never been before. Even so, Adam knows what he wants. Isaac, though, will have to decide if taking the risk is worth the potential danger, even if it means finding what he’s been missing from his life for so long.
As with the previous books in the series, A Kind of Home can be enjoyed as a standalone, but because this series is full of such wonderfully developed characters and some of the most beautifully constructed passages of dialogue placed within some of the most well-crafted and perfectly paced romances I’ve read in the genre, there’s no reason not to read the other books in the series.
And this title in the series is no exception. I’m sure my love of Adam has something to do with his physical description. What can I say? I love hunky guys. Guilty as charged. But it’s more than that. He’s upbeat, a little bit goofy, and a much better communicator than I expected him to be. In truth, he’s a surprisingly deep and complex character that I really fell in love with. The fact that this story is written entirely from Isaac’s point of view means that the author did something truly special to make Adam leap off the page as much as he did for me. It also makes the romance between them land right up there with my other favorite of the series. There are so many moments of simple and beautifully intimate sweetness interspersed among the deliciously hot scenes of a different type of intimacy that the romance meter in my chest stayed pegged…
And then the ending sequence happened. The side plot about the creepy fan resolves and while it was certainly an underdeveloped plot line by any standard of romantic suspense, I don’t think its purpose was to add suspense so much as to add another layer of trust between Isaac and Adam. So that wasn’t my problem, though I imagine some people will cite this as being an issue. What got me was the apparently inevitable break-up scene. It happens so late in the story that I had actually convinced myself that there wasn’t going to be one this time, that the story was beautiful and didn’t need the drama of a breakup to give me the big feels that I love so much in romance because it had already done so all along the way, that the slightly dramatic resolution of the stalker-fan thing was enough to make Isaac realize that he needed to cling to the things that bring him joy and life and the feeling of home. But alas… it happened anyway. And while I understood where Isaac was coming from in doing it, I still didn’t get why it was necessary to the story. Had this part been omitted, this would have been my first five-star read in just over twelve months and over 110 books read—and yeah, the last time was to that other book in this series. When they get to the reuniting scene, it contained the loving sweetness that is expected, but at that point, it didn’t resonate with me as much. It was as if the magic was broken. So while it didn’t completely ruin my love of the book, rarely have I wished that I could pay an author to rewrite a chapter of a book as much as the final chapter of this one.
Despite the ending (and my own drama over it), I still loved A Kind of Home. I suspect that this will be the last full novel of the series because there aren’t any more band members and no more gay/bi side characters that I recall. I admit that makes me a little sad, as this series really is one that pulled at my heartstrings from start to finish. Uncomplicated and largely without unnecessary and unrealistic drama, Lane Hayes’s A Kind of Stories series will hold a special place in my heart for a long time to come.
The author and/or publisher generously provided me a complimentary copy of A Kind of Home in exchange for this fair and honest review.
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This time, the focus is on the lead guitarist of the mega-popular band Spiral, Isaac Dalton. After finishing an international leg of their latest world tour, Isaac is ready for a break, especially since it’s not just the seemingly endless tour schedule that’s exhausting him. Lately, a particularly creepy fan has unwillingly forced him to have a round-the-clock bodyguard that drives him crazy. And coming home to find the hot older brother of his best friend from back home still living in Isaac’s apartment three months after the one week he was supposed to be crashing there just adds to the stress. Adam McBride may be Isaac’s first big crush and recently divorced, but that doesn’t change the fact that the guy is straight and off-limits for more reasons than just that. It turns out, though, that Adam is more than Isaac thought. He’s still built like the star athlete he was back home, but his passions have changed since his divorce—he’s traded his hammer and nails for cookies and a spatula, for one. And that’s not the only thing that’s changed. When the mutually beneficial living arrangement turns into an undeniable attraction, acting upon it puts both men in a place they’ve never been before. Even so, Adam knows what he wants. Isaac, though, will have to decide if taking the risk is worth the potential danger, even if it means finding what he’s been missing from his life for so long.
As with the previous books in the series, A Kind of Home can be enjoyed as a standalone, but because this series is full of such wonderfully developed characters and some of the most beautifully constructed passages of dialogue placed within some of the most well-crafted and perfectly paced romances I’ve read in the genre, there’s no reason not to read the other books in the series.
And this title in the series is no exception. I’m sure my love of Adam has something to do with his physical description. What can I say? I love hunky guys. Guilty as charged. But it’s more than that. He’s upbeat, a little bit goofy, and a much better communicator than I expected him to be. In truth, he’s a surprisingly deep and complex character that I really fell in love with. The fact that this story is written entirely from Isaac’s point of view means that the author did something truly special to make Adam leap off the page as much as he did for me. It also makes the romance between them land right up there with my other favorite of the series. There are so many moments of simple and beautifully intimate sweetness interspersed among the deliciously hot scenes of a different type of intimacy that the romance meter in my chest stayed pegged…
And then the ending sequence happened. The side plot about the creepy fan resolves and while it was certainly an underdeveloped plot line by any standard of romantic suspense, I don’t think its purpose was to add suspense so much as to add another layer of trust between Isaac and Adam. So that wasn’t my problem, though I imagine some people will cite this as being an issue. What got me was the apparently inevitable break-up scene. It happens so late in the story that I had actually convinced myself that there wasn’t going to be one this time, that the story was beautiful and didn’t need the drama of a breakup to give me the big feels that I love so much in romance because it had already done so all along the way, that the slightly dramatic resolution of the stalker-fan thing was enough to make Isaac realize that he needed to cling to the things that bring him joy and life and the feeling of home. But alas… it happened anyway. And while I understood where Isaac was coming from in doing it, I still didn’t get why it was necessary to the story. Had this part been omitted, this would have been my first five-star read in just over twelve months and over 110 books read—and yeah, the last time was to that other book in this series. When they get to the reuniting scene, it contained the loving sweetness that is expected, but at that point, it didn’t resonate with me as much. It was as if the magic was broken. So while it didn’t completely ruin my love of the book, rarely have I wished that I could pay an author to rewrite a chapter of a book as much as the final chapter of this one.
Despite the ending (and my own drama over it), I still loved A Kind of Home. I suspect that this will be the last full novel of the series because there aren’t any more band members and no more gay/bi side characters that I recall. I admit that makes me a little sad, as this series really is one that pulled at my heartstrings from start to finish. Uncomplicated and largely without unnecessary and unrealistic drama, Lane Hayes’s A Kind of Stories series will hold a special place in my heart for a long time to come.
The author and/or publisher generously provided me a complimentary copy of A Kind of Home in exchange for this fair and honest review.
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July 2, 2017
I've read the previous three books in this series and five starred every one of them.
This one didn't work quite as well for me. I felt like it tried too hard, then missed the goal post.
I didn't truly feel the connection between the MCs. The suspense part of the plot was a little lame compared to other suspense stories I've read. The superstardom was reiterated many times, but I didn't live it.
I don't know, it just kind of fell flat for me. I expected something more exotic from our favorite lead guitar player. Instead, I got a nervous wreck, flighty man. I needed Adam to be much more alpha in order for this to work. He was too soft as a partner for another soft character.
Last but not least, the story simply didn't go where I wanted it to. Their HEA seems very farfetched to me. Maybe not entirely impossible, but improbable long-term.
I wanted to continue with my five star run in this series. But realistically, they can't all be perfect. So, a big 3 stars because I can't possibly give less to a book in a series that has been outstanding so far.
This one didn't work quite as well for me. I felt like it tried too hard, then missed the goal post.
I didn't truly feel the connection between the MCs. The suspense part of the plot was a little lame compared to other suspense stories I've read. The superstardom was reiterated many times, but I didn't live it.
I don't know, it just kind of fell flat for me. I expected something more exotic from our favorite lead guitar player. Instead, I got a nervous wreck, flighty man. I needed Adam to be much more alpha in order for this to work. He was too soft as a partner for another soft character.
Last but not least, the story simply didn't go where I wanted it to. Their HEA seems very farfetched to me. Maybe not entirely impossible, but improbable long-term.
I wanted to continue with my five star run in this series. But realistically, they can't all be perfect. So, a big 3 stars because I can't possibly give less to a book in a series that has been outstanding so far.
July 6, 2017
3.5 stars
I've never read any of the book in this series before, but is easy to get into the story and the camaraderie of the band. They showed up here and there but didn't overtake the story as a whole. Isaac is the guitarist from a small town that he had no desire to go back to. Adam McBride is a childhood friend and currently an unwanted guest in Isaac's fancy apartment.
With a stalker constantly at the back of his mind, Isaac seems constantly on edge and besides music, he doesn't have much of a life. He seems rather mellow for a rock star and lonely too. Honestly, Isaac as a character seems rather bland to me.
Adam is the typical boisterous charming ex-jock, currently divorce and decided to visit NYC to lick his wounds and annoy the hell out of Isaac. Despite this all coming from Isaac's POV, I find myself actually leaning more towards Adam rather than Isaac. Not only Adam is a big and loud guy, he had the biggest heart too. Despite his divorce, he is not sulking or jaded or hating his life. Instead, he is moving on and pursuing his dream. A sexy baker is hard to resist, definitely.
Actually I find the stalker story a bit weak. There isn't a sense of suspense that make us nervous or guessing who is the culprit until the penultimate chapter. Nonetheless, it create an opportunity for drama towards the end that finally make me anxious to see how Isaac pull his head out his ass.
The romance between Isaac and Adam did felt natural from their progression from friends to lovers. The reason I can't rate this higher is due to weak stalker storyline and inability to connect with Isaac. Adam is the highlight of the book for me though.
I've never read any of the book in this series before, but is easy to get into the story and the camaraderie of the band. They showed up here and there but didn't overtake the story as a whole. Isaac is the guitarist from a small town that he had no desire to go back to. Adam McBride is a childhood friend and currently an unwanted guest in Isaac's fancy apartment.
With a stalker constantly at the back of his mind, Isaac seems constantly on edge and besides music, he doesn't have much of a life. He seems rather mellow for a rock star and lonely too. Honestly, Isaac as a character seems rather bland to me.
Adam is the typical boisterous charming ex-jock, currently divorce and decided to visit NYC to lick his wounds and annoy the hell out of Isaac. Despite this all coming from Isaac's POV, I find myself actually leaning more towards Adam rather than Isaac. Not only Adam is a big and loud guy, he had the biggest heart too. Despite his divorce, he is not sulking or jaded or hating his life. Instead, he is moving on and pursuing his dream. A sexy baker is hard to resist, definitely.
Actually I find the stalker story a bit weak. There isn't a sense of suspense that make us nervous or guessing who is the culprit until the penultimate chapter. Nonetheless, it create an opportunity for drama towards the end that finally make me anxious to see how Isaac pull his head out his ass.
The romance between Isaac and Adam did felt natural from their progression from friends to lovers. The reason I can't rate this higher is due to weak stalker storyline and inability to connect with Isaac. Adam is the highlight of the book for me though.
December 29, 2017
Audiobook reviewSo I didn't love this book, it was probably my least favourite in the series so far, but that might just be me. I do have a weakness for rocker stories, one of my (many) guilty pleasures, so I really don't regret reading this book. And as with Hayes' other stories, it is very well written, with well developed characters and plot. It can be read as a standalone, but then you'd miss out on some great couples, so if you haven't already, you should definitely start at the beginning of this series. I'll wait 'til you catch up ;)
A Kind of Home was, for the most part a very sweet, slow paced friends to lovers story, with Isaac the internationally famous rock star and Adam, the brother of his best friend. They are an unlikely couple, but they still work on some level. I did like the stalker element to this story, it gave it some more depth and balanced out all the fluff quite nicely.
The main thing that kept me from loving this book was Isaac. There were just too many times where I was yelling "Don't do that, what are you thinking?" or muttering "idiot" under my breath at something else he decided to do (or not to). There were too many "Too Stupid to Live" moments that I felt I was reading a YA novel. (Hint; I'm not a fan of the TSTL YA trope). And instead of communicate he put his head in the sand and ignored the issues, hoping they would go away. Or he ran away, literally.
Seth Clayton was an okay narrator. My only niggle is that he doesn't really feel what he's narrating. At times he sounds bored while reading, and that doesn't heighten the experience. It doesn't draw you into the story, but you disconnect from it in a way. The story and the people weren't alive in that way truly great narrators can make them. On the plus side, Clayton was pleasant to listen to during these hours so that is something that is very important to me.
A copy of this book was generously provided in exchange for an honest review
June 25, 2017
4/5 - This was a great addition to the A Kind of Stories series and I absolutely adored Adam.
I have to give kudos to Hayes for writing consistently awesome books. This is fourth book in this series and I'm still completely in love with all of the members of Spiral. It's getting to a point where I'm getting that family feel from everyone because I know their stories and it's great having the MC's of the last three books as supporting characters in the books to follow.
I wasn't the biggest fan of Adam at first but he won my heart pretty quickly. I wish that this book was dual POV and I could read from Adam's perspective as well as Issac's, but even without Adam's POV I still think I understood where Adam was coming from. Isaac was pretty good at reading Adam's emotions and he kind of wore them on his sleeve, so while I would've liked dual POV, this book worked just fine without it.
After Adam's divorce he went to stay with Issac just for a little while until he was able to get back on his feet. He ended up losing his job and his entire life so he came to Issac with literally nothing but himself. He had nothing to offer him and Issac had people coming at him from left and right trying to get into his pants. Despite being an unlikely pair, they quickly hit it off and Adam's world was turned upside down by the realization that he was unquestionably insanely attracted to Issac.
Issac was a little more stubborn. He was very guarded and despite being attracted to Adam, he took his time opening up his heart and giving him a real chance. There were several moments that made me just want to smack him upside the head and tell him he was being stupid. And he remained stupid right up until the last page. He was continually screwing up and being an idiot, but Adam loved him for it anyway and he was being incredibly patient with Issac.
And these two were incredibly hot in the bedroom. Adam thirsted for it like a parched man and Issac was all too happy to oblige. I loved this friends to lovers romance and I would definitely recommend it. Technically it could be read as a standalone, but the other three books add so much to the series, I think it's best to read them in order.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
I have to give kudos to Hayes for writing consistently awesome books. This is fourth book in this series and I'm still completely in love with all of the members of Spiral. It's getting to a point where I'm getting that family feel from everyone because I know their stories and it's great having the MC's of the last three books as supporting characters in the books to follow.
I wasn't the biggest fan of Adam at first but he won my heart pretty quickly. I wish that this book was dual POV and I could read from Adam's perspective as well as Issac's, but even without Adam's POV I still think I understood where Adam was coming from. Isaac was pretty good at reading Adam's emotions and he kind of wore them on his sleeve, so while I would've liked dual POV, this book worked just fine without it.
After Adam's divorce he went to stay with Issac just for a little while until he was able to get back on his feet. He ended up losing his job and his entire life so he came to Issac with literally nothing but himself. He had nothing to offer him and Issac had people coming at him from left and right trying to get into his pants. Despite being an unlikely pair, they quickly hit it off and Adam's world was turned upside down by the realization that he was unquestionably insanely attracted to Issac.
Issac was a little more stubborn. He was very guarded and despite being attracted to Adam, he took his time opening up his heart and giving him a real chance. There were several moments that made me just want to smack him upside the head and tell him he was being stupid. And he remained stupid right up until the last page. He was continually screwing up and being an idiot, but Adam loved him for it anyway and he was being incredibly patient with Issac.
And these two were incredibly hot in the bedroom. Adam thirsted for it like a parched man and Issac was all too happy to oblige. I loved this friends to lovers romance and I would definitely recommend it. Technically it could be read as a standalone, but the other three books add so much to the series, I think it's best to read them in order.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
June 28, 2017
In previous books of this series we have gotten to know the guys from the rock band Spiral. By the time this book begins the band is huge. They're one of the most famous bands in the world and the long hours, traveling and lack of privacy has begun to wear on guitarist Isaac. He loves the music but he's growing weary of everything else. What he wants most is to be left alone. Unfortunately for Isaac he's picked up an odd fan who seems like they might be obsessed with him. As a result he has also picked up a body guard he doesn't want.
Imagine Isaac's shock when he gets home from a tour to find that the old friend he said could use his apartment for a week or so is still there a few months later. Adam is the older brother of Isaac's best friend from high school. Isaac always had a crush on the older boy and hasn't seen him since his wedding a few years earlier. Despite his annoyance at finding Adam at his place he agrees to let him stay a bit longer. Adam is getting divorced and is looking to make some changes in his life.
As the two men begin to get reacquainted Isaac finds that all the things that attracted him to Adam in the past are still there but now there are even more things to like about him. Adam is in New York to make big changes in his life and apparently he's not as straight as Isaac always thought he was. The two can't deny their chemistry and soon friendship turns into something more.
I liked both of these MC's individually and I really loved them together. They were a perfect compliment to each other. Their chemistry jumped off the pages and the book was filled with both sweet, romantic scenes and some super hot bedroom scenes. The grand gesture at the end was especially lovely.
Extra kudos to the author for not making the ex wife the stereotypical shrew and for not making Adam's bisexuality an issue or problem within the marriage. I thought the entire divorce part of the plotline was well thought out and executed perfectly.
This book can be read as a standalone. Because of both band work and their friendships we see a lot of some of the previous characters (especially Rand) so if you've read the others you'll probably appreciate that. So whether you're an existing fan of the series or new to it, this is a book I would definitely recommend
Imagine Isaac's shock when he gets home from a tour to find that the old friend he said could use his apartment for a week or so is still there a few months later. Adam is the older brother of Isaac's best friend from high school. Isaac always had a crush on the older boy and hasn't seen him since his wedding a few years earlier. Despite his annoyance at finding Adam at his place he agrees to let him stay a bit longer. Adam is getting divorced and is looking to make some changes in his life.
As the two men begin to get reacquainted Isaac finds that all the things that attracted him to Adam in the past are still there but now there are even more things to like about him. Adam is in New York to make big changes in his life and apparently he's not as straight as Isaac always thought he was. The two can't deny their chemistry and soon friendship turns into something more.
I liked both of these MC's individually and I really loved them together. They were a perfect compliment to each other. Their chemistry jumped off the pages and the book was filled with both sweet, romantic scenes and some super hot bedroom scenes. The grand gesture at the end was especially lovely.
Extra kudos to the author for not making the ex wife the stereotypical shrew and for not making Adam's bisexuality an issue or problem within the marriage. I thought the entire divorce part of the plotline was well thought out and executed perfectly.
This book can be read as a standalone. Because of both band work and their friendships we see a lot of some of the previous characters (especially Rand) so if you've read the others you'll probably appreciate that. So whether you're an existing fan of the series or new to it, this is a book I would definitely recommend
June 19, 2017
This one picks up later than the other books as the band Spiral has become extremely popular and the guys are under a lot of pressure and media scrutiny. Lead Guitarist, Isaac Dalton used to be the member who dressed up in various costumes, but his style has scaled down a bit. He lives for the music, but could do without the fame and lack of privacy.
Coming off an exhausting European tour, Isaac just wants to come home to some peace and quiet. But he did not realize that the house guest he said could stay for a week awhile back is still in residence. His best friend's older brother and previous crush, Adam McBride is still living in his apartment after going through a divorce and leaving the town they grew up in. Adam is handsome, charming, funny, and loyal. He is starting his life over and is harboring a secret.
Isaac is somewhat disconnected from life and is not really feeling anything. He has a rule against no repeats and does not do relationships. He is also dealing with a stalker super fan that has him on edge and is a security worry. The rock and roll popularity is wearing on him.
There is sexual tension between them even though Isaac has always thought Adam was straight. And one drunken night, they act on it. But neither want to face the awkward morning after. And since Isaac does not do repeats, it is easier for him to try to force themselves back into the friend zone. But their attempts at wholesome diversions and shared interests cannot keep the unwholesome thoughts and attraction away. And as they spend more time together and get closer, it is harder to resist the physical pull. And an intimate intentional repeat will change their dynamics again.
I liked both of these guys and I liked them together. Adam is just so good-natured, lovable, and positive. Isaac definitely has more issues from his past and current situation. But he is supportive of Adam as well. They have good chemistry, history, a connection, and get along so well. They also trust each other and develop intimacy along with desire.
But Isaac's life is not his own. He is at the mercy of the public and there are safety risks. He feels guilt about dragging Adam into his chaotic life. He is used to repressing emotions and trying to avoid problems and hope they will just go away. He is not a risk taker when it comes to his emotions or relationships. And Adam has his own plans for his future that do not really coincide. His life has undergone so many changes and he is still finding his footing. They are both protective but go about it differently. Adam wants to be there when Isaac needs him, while Isaac tends to push Adam away for his own good.
I enjoyed getting more from previous friends Rand, Will, Tim, Carter, Cory, Holly, Benny, Zeke, and Cammy. This group has been through a lot together, and they try to be there for Isaac even when he is stubborn and prideful. There was some mystery and suspense as to who was sending Isaac messages that added tension. I did have some issues with some of the questionable choices made by the characters and a few plot points. It is a slower paced and slower build story in the first half, and some more drama and romance in the second half. I liked these two, but Benny and Zeke are still my favorite couple of the series.
This is a combination rock star, room mates, best-friend's-brother, and friends-to-lovers story with laughter, companionship, taking chances, and new beginnings. But also has some added suspense. I really liked the underlying theme of finding out what home really means to each of them.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Coming off an exhausting European tour, Isaac just wants to come home to some peace and quiet. But he did not realize that the house guest he said could stay for a week awhile back is still in residence. His best friend's older brother and previous crush, Adam McBride is still living in his apartment after going through a divorce and leaving the town they grew up in. Adam is handsome, charming, funny, and loyal. He is starting his life over and is harboring a secret.
Isaac is somewhat disconnected from life and is not really feeling anything. He has a rule against no repeats and does not do relationships. He is also dealing with a stalker super fan that has him on edge and is a security worry. The rock and roll popularity is wearing on him.
There is sexual tension between them even though Isaac has always thought Adam was straight. And one drunken night, they act on it. But neither want to face the awkward morning after. And since Isaac does not do repeats, it is easier for him to try to force themselves back into the friend zone. But their attempts at wholesome diversions and shared interests cannot keep the unwholesome thoughts and attraction away. And as they spend more time together and get closer, it is harder to resist the physical pull. And an intimate intentional repeat will change their dynamics again.
I liked both of these guys and I liked them together. Adam is just so good-natured, lovable, and positive. Isaac definitely has more issues from his past and current situation. But he is supportive of Adam as well. They have good chemistry, history, a connection, and get along so well. They also trust each other and develop intimacy along with desire.
But Isaac's life is not his own. He is at the mercy of the public and there are safety risks. He feels guilt about dragging Adam into his chaotic life. He is used to repressing emotions and trying to avoid problems and hope they will just go away. He is not a risk taker when it comes to his emotions or relationships. And Adam has his own plans for his future that do not really coincide. His life has undergone so many changes and he is still finding his footing. They are both protective but go about it differently. Adam wants to be there when Isaac needs him, while Isaac tends to push Adam away for his own good.
I enjoyed getting more from previous friends Rand, Will, Tim, Carter, Cory, Holly, Benny, Zeke, and Cammy. This group has been through a lot together, and they try to be there for Isaac even when he is stubborn and prideful. There was some mystery and suspense as to who was sending Isaac messages that added tension. I did have some issues with some of the questionable choices made by the characters and a few plot points. It is a slower paced and slower build story in the first half, and some more drama and romance in the second half. I liked these two, but Benny and Zeke are still my favorite couple of the series.
This is a combination rock star, room mates, best-friend's-brother, and friends-to-lovers story with laughter, companionship, taking chances, and new beginnings. But also has some added suspense. I really liked the underlying theme of finding out what home really means to each of them.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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July 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this book as well as revisiting the band mates. Isaac and Adam's relationship was a joy to watch unfold. I LOVED Adam. I loved his humor and gentleness and he is one of those MCs that just almost seems too good to be true. A wonderful addition to a wonderful series!
July 28, 2017
Die Punktebewertung bewegt sich irgendwo zwischen 3 und 4 Sternen und weil es doch eher in Richtung 4 Sterne tendierte, hab ich aufgerundet.
Darum geht’s:
Als Isaac, der Gitarrist der erfolgreichen Band Spiral, in einer Tourneepause in seine New Yorker Wohnung kommt, ist er ziemlich irritiert, als er Adam, den Schwarm aus Jugendtagen, immer noch dort vorfindet. Adam wollte nur für kurze Zeit bei Isaac unterschlüpfen, um nach der Scheidung seine Wunden zu lecken. Jetzt will Isaac seine Ruhe und Adam nervt. Denn früher war Isaac ziemlich in Adam verknallt und auch jetzt findet er ihn immer noch sehr anziehend.
So fand ich’s:
Die „A Kind of“-Serie dreht sich um die Bandmitglieder von Spiral und inzwischen hat die frühere Garagen-Band ihren großen Durchbruch gehabt. Auch Gitarrist Isaac wird von Fans umlagert, kann sich kaum noch unerkannt auf New Yorks Straßen bewegen und braucht sogar einen Bodyguard. Nur wenn er Musik macht oder sich in seine Wohnung zurückzieht, kann er entspannen. Und da ist im Moment Adam, der große Bruder seines besten Schulfreundes, der über die Jahre selbst wie ein Bruder für Isaac geworden ist. Dass seine Jugendschwärmerei wieder aufflammt, findet Isaac eher lästig, denn Adam steht auf Frauen und auf Herzschmerz hat Isaac keine Lust. Doch es dauert nicht lange, bis Adam ein Geheimnis lüftet, um das er schon eine Weile herumschleicht – er hat auch Gefühle für Isaac.
Isaac und Adam haben leichte Anlaufschwierigkeiten miteinander, wie sie in vielen Beziehungen vorkommen. Isaac muss erst einmal von seiner Jugendschwärmerei umstellen auf die Vorstellung, dass Adam für ihn plötzlich wirklich erreichbar ist. Und Adam hat bisher nur seinen Brüdern gestanden, dass er nicht nur auf Frauen, sondern auch auf Männer steht. Er selbst ist sich schon lange darüber klar, aber öffentlich machen will er das erstmal nicht. Und wie es nach seiner Scheidung mit seinem Leben grundsätzlich weiter gehen soll, ist ihm auch nicht klar. Nach einer Auszeit in New York möchte Adam eigentlich zurück in seine und Isaacs Heimatstadt Springville, die Isaac am liebsten nie wieder betreten würde.
Eigentlich sind das keine wirklich fundamentalen Probleme, aber sie reichen aus, um die im Grunde sehr harmonische (und erotische) Entwicklung zwischen den beiden Männern ein wenig kompliziert zu machen. Und dann gibt es noch einen anonymen Fan, der die Grenzen der Bewunderung überschreitet und Isaac inzwischen sogar Angst macht.
Doch in erster Linie ist das eine leichte, unkomplizierte Liebesgeschichte zwischen zwei sympathischen Männern, die ich gerne gelesen habe, die aber doch nicht den Sprung in die Kategorie „etwas Besonderes“ geschafft hat. Sie führt die schöne Reihe konsequent fort und ich habe mich auch über ein Wiedersehen mit den Protagonisten der anderen Bände gefreut, aber ein einer Lieblingsband ist „A Kind of Home“ nicht geworden, auch wenn er doch unerhaltsam war. Man kann das Buch auch lesen, ohne die Vorgängerbände zu kennen, aber da diese mit einen Tick besser gefallen haben, empfehle ich, die nicht auszulassen, sondern die ganze Reihe in der richtigen Reihenfolge zu lesen.
Darum geht’s:
Als Isaac, der Gitarrist der erfolgreichen Band Spiral, in einer Tourneepause in seine New Yorker Wohnung kommt, ist er ziemlich irritiert, als er Adam, den Schwarm aus Jugendtagen, immer noch dort vorfindet. Adam wollte nur für kurze Zeit bei Isaac unterschlüpfen, um nach der Scheidung seine Wunden zu lecken. Jetzt will Isaac seine Ruhe und Adam nervt. Denn früher war Isaac ziemlich in Adam verknallt und auch jetzt findet er ihn immer noch sehr anziehend.
So fand ich’s:
Die „A Kind of“-Serie dreht sich um die Bandmitglieder von Spiral und inzwischen hat die frühere Garagen-Band ihren großen Durchbruch gehabt. Auch Gitarrist Isaac wird von Fans umlagert, kann sich kaum noch unerkannt auf New Yorks Straßen bewegen und braucht sogar einen Bodyguard. Nur wenn er Musik macht oder sich in seine Wohnung zurückzieht, kann er entspannen. Und da ist im Moment Adam, der große Bruder seines besten Schulfreundes, der über die Jahre selbst wie ein Bruder für Isaac geworden ist. Dass seine Jugendschwärmerei wieder aufflammt, findet Isaac eher lästig, denn Adam steht auf Frauen und auf Herzschmerz hat Isaac keine Lust. Doch es dauert nicht lange, bis Adam ein Geheimnis lüftet, um das er schon eine Weile herumschleicht – er hat auch Gefühle für Isaac.
Isaac und Adam haben leichte Anlaufschwierigkeiten miteinander, wie sie in vielen Beziehungen vorkommen. Isaac muss erst einmal von seiner Jugendschwärmerei umstellen auf die Vorstellung, dass Adam für ihn plötzlich wirklich erreichbar ist. Und Adam hat bisher nur seinen Brüdern gestanden, dass er nicht nur auf Frauen, sondern auch auf Männer steht. Er selbst ist sich schon lange darüber klar, aber öffentlich machen will er das erstmal nicht. Und wie es nach seiner Scheidung mit seinem Leben grundsätzlich weiter gehen soll, ist ihm auch nicht klar. Nach einer Auszeit in New York möchte Adam eigentlich zurück in seine und Isaacs Heimatstadt Springville, die Isaac am liebsten nie wieder betreten würde.
Eigentlich sind das keine wirklich fundamentalen Probleme, aber sie reichen aus, um die im Grunde sehr harmonische (und erotische) Entwicklung zwischen den beiden Männern ein wenig kompliziert zu machen. Und dann gibt es noch einen anonymen Fan, der die Grenzen der Bewunderung überschreitet und Isaac inzwischen sogar Angst macht.
Doch in erster Linie ist das eine leichte, unkomplizierte Liebesgeschichte zwischen zwei sympathischen Männern, die ich gerne gelesen habe, die aber doch nicht den Sprung in die Kategorie „etwas Besonderes“ geschafft hat. Sie führt die schöne Reihe konsequent fort und ich habe mich auch über ein Wiedersehen mit den Protagonisten der anderen Bände gefreut, aber ein einer Lieblingsband ist „A Kind of Home“ nicht geworden, auch wenn er doch unerhaltsam war. Man kann das Buch auch lesen, ohne die Vorgängerbände zu kennen, aber da diese mit einen Tick besser gefallen haben, empfehle ich, die nicht auszulassen, sondern die ganze Reihe in der richtigen Reihenfolge zu lesen.
June 20, 2017
5 Stars
This is by far my favorite series by Lane Hayes, and I'd thought it was done, so I was extremely happy to see we were getting another story in the series. Isaac is the one member of Spiral that doesn't come from the same hometown as the rest of his bandmates. He hails from a small town in Pennsylvania. When his childhood best friend's brother, Adam divorces his wife, he decides he needs a break from the small town as well, and heads to the Big Apple and Isaac finds himself with a new roommate. Isaac had a crush on Adam growing up, but Adam is straight. Being in close quarters with his old friend Adam shows Issac maybe he isn't as over his crush as he thought and maybe Adam isn't as straight as he thought, but with the music, touring and now a weird secret admirer sending him creepy letters in his life, the last thing Issac needs or wants in his life is romance.
Throughout the series, we haven't learned a whole lot about Isaac, so I'm happy we got to finally meet the real him. His background story is intriguing and I loved that, as much as I love the NYC setting, we got to go back to his hometown and see where Issac's journey started. I absolutely adored Adam. Both he and Isaac are sweet and funny and as for Adam, well, I love a man who can wield a spatula. Together Isaac and Adam fit perfectly. I loved the slow and natural progression of their relationship. We really got to know both Isaac and Adam as individuals before we got to know them as a couple. Although the story is told completely from Isaacs point of view, Adam is still a well-developed character.
I absolutely loved this story. It's well-written and flows well and it's a fantastic addition to the series. The chemistry between Isaac and Adam was out of this world and the sex was hot, yet also filled with passion and love. I loved getting to revisit with the guys from Spiral and get a glimpse at where their lives are headed. The storyline of Isaac's creepy secret admirer added mystery and suspense to the story and kept me guessing until the last minute as to who was sending the letters. I can't say this enough, if you haven't read the books in this series, go one-click them, you won't regret it! Highly recommended!
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher via Dreamspinner in exchange for an honest review*
This is by far my favorite series by Lane Hayes, and I'd thought it was done, so I was extremely happy to see we were getting another story in the series. Isaac is the one member of Spiral that doesn't come from the same hometown as the rest of his bandmates. He hails from a small town in Pennsylvania. When his childhood best friend's brother, Adam divorces his wife, he decides he needs a break from the small town as well, and heads to the Big Apple and Isaac finds himself with a new roommate. Isaac had a crush on Adam growing up, but Adam is straight. Being in close quarters with his old friend Adam shows Issac maybe he isn't as over his crush as he thought and maybe Adam isn't as straight as he thought, but with the music, touring and now a weird secret admirer sending him creepy letters in his life, the last thing Issac needs or wants in his life is romance.
Throughout the series, we haven't learned a whole lot about Isaac, so I'm happy we got to finally meet the real him. His background story is intriguing and I loved that, as much as I love the NYC setting, we got to go back to his hometown and see where Issac's journey started. I absolutely adored Adam. Both he and Isaac are sweet and funny and as for Adam, well, I love a man who can wield a spatula. Together Isaac and Adam fit perfectly. I loved the slow and natural progression of their relationship. We really got to know both Isaac and Adam as individuals before we got to know them as a couple. Although the story is told completely from Isaacs point of view, Adam is still a well-developed character.
I absolutely loved this story. It's well-written and flows well and it's a fantastic addition to the series. The chemistry between Isaac and Adam was out of this world and the sex was hot, yet also filled with passion and love. I loved getting to revisit with the guys from Spiral and get a glimpse at where their lives are headed. The storyline of Isaac's creepy secret admirer added mystery and suspense to the story and kept me guessing until the last minute as to who was sending the letters. I can't say this enough, if you haven't read the books in this series, go one-click them, you won't regret it! Highly recommended!
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher via Dreamspinner in exchange for an honest review*
August 8, 2017
Another favorite from this series.
Isaac is the lead guitar for the megafamous band, Spiral. His life consists of his music and his bandmates/friends. It noticeably does not contain that special someone that his friends have in their lifes.
Even though he considers himself just a regular guy, his life is anything but regular. And it starts to get a little crazier with continued communication from a fan that strikes a weird vibe with Isaac and his manager, leading to the need for a personal bodyguard.
Separate from all of that is Isaac has acquired a temporary roommate. Adam is the older brother of Ned, his best friend from high school. Adam has recently gone through a divorce and needed time to get away and figure out what he wanted to do with life. Adam is laid back and seems to know when Isaac needs to step away from the craziness of his life; he provides a normalcy with simple things like baking cookies and walking dogs. Isaac finds a balance, a comfort, from all of that. Plus, Adam is a hunk, both in physical statue and appearance. Oh, and have I mentioned that he was Isaac's dream crush growing up?
I loved the honest feel of this, how Isaac's life as a rock star didn't always jibe with how he viewed himself, and the pressures that caused for him. Isaac didn't always handle that right, putting himself in danger a couple of times.
But it's Adam that really made the book for me. His open and honest demeanor made me connect with him and in turn, with Isaac. I loved how he could just slow down Isaac's life for him and give him exactly what he needed. I loved his deep, caring nature and how that just surrounded Isaac, protecting and loving him.
I can understand how this might be the last of the series - I really don't know for sure - but I wouldn't mind more books, especially if I could find out how these two are doing in the future.
Isaac is the lead guitar for the megafamous band, Spiral. His life consists of his music and his bandmates/friends. It noticeably does not contain that special someone that his friends have in their lifes.
Even though he considers himself just a regular guy, his life is anything but regular. And it starts to get a little crazier with continued communication from a fan that strikes a weird vibe with Isaac and his manager, leading to the need for a personal bodyguard.
Separate from all of that is Isaac has acquired a temporary roommate. Adam is the older brother of Ned, his best friend from high school. Adam has recently gone through a divorce and needed time to get away and figure out what he wanted to do with life. Adam is laid back and seems to know when Isaac needs to step away from the craziness of his life; he provides a normalcy with simple things like baking cookies and walking dogs. Isaac finds a balance, a comfort, from all of that. Plus, Adam is a hunk, both in physical statue and appearance. Oh, and have I mentioned that he was Isaac's dream crush growing up?
I loved the honest feel of this, how Isaac's life as a rock star didn't always jibe with how he viewed himself, and the pressures that caused for him. Isaac didn't always handle that right, putting himself in danger a couple of times.
But it's Adam that really made the book for me. His open and honest demeanor made me connect with him and in turn, with Isaac. I loved how he could just slow down Isaac's life for him and give him exactly what he needed. I loved his deep, caring nature and how that just surrounded Isaac, protecting and loving him.
I can understand how this might be the last of the series - I really don't know for sure - but I wouldn't mind more books, especially if I could find out how these two are doing in the future.
July 14, 2017
4.25 stars for me. Really liked Adam, and he and Isaac made a great twosome. The stalker part of the story was well done, and things were going smoothly until the stalker was revealed, and then everything felt rushed unfortunately. I wasn't happy with the way Isaac sent Adam away [for his own protection maybe, but Adam clearly wasn't happy either]; however, all's well that ends well. Nice catching up with the rest of Spiral, oh and congrats to Will and Rand on their engagement 😀.
July 25, 2017
I'm disappointed by this story because I loved all the other books in the series. I had to push myself in order to finish it.
July 8, 2017
The friends to lovers trope will never get old for me as long as authors like Lane Hayes write stories like A Kind of Home to keep things fresh. It has a perfect balance of sweet and sexy, drama and fun, with a slight touch of suspense to add some extra tension. And it has Adam, who I totally fell for from the moment he hit the page.
The story is told solely from Isaac’s point of view, and overall I found him to be a very likable character. He is extremely talented musically, and is adamant about not getting involved with anyone apart from one night stands. His aversion to relationships comes from his family past, but maybe…just maybe an old friend might change his mind. A friend like Adam. Adam was sweet, funny, eternally optimistic, and just someone who you can’t help but like. While on the outside it might seem like he’s directionless and unfocused, the more we learn about him the easier it is to see how wrong that assumption is.
The majority of the story concentrates on the development of Isaac and Adam’s relationship, with a side plot of a stalker-ish fan of Isaac’s getting just a bit too creepy. Honestly, the story could have gone without that part and I’d have been totally fine with it since the evolution of Isaac and Adam’s relationship would have been enough to tell a full story. But it does add that little something extra to up the drama factor, and also eventually leads to another dramatic point between Issac and Adam late in the story.
I’m not sure why, but it was really hard for me to picture the characters’ physical selves with this story…Isaac more so than Adam. This made it a bit more difficult for me to play the scenes out in my head as I was reading, but in the end it didn’t affect my rating for the story.
A Kind of Home was a solid 4-star read for me, and while it is part of a series it can definitely be read as a standalone. If you love friends to lovers, this will be a great story for you, and if you love rockstar romance you’ll get that bonus here as well. This story is for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
The story is told solely from Isaac’s point of view, and overall I found him to be a very likable character. He is extremely talented musically, and is adamant about not getting involved with anyone apart from one night stands. His aversion to relationships comes from his family past, but maybe…just maybe an old friend might change his mind. A friend like Adam. Adam was sweet, funny, eternally optimistic, and just someone who you can’t help but like. While on the outside it might seem like he’s directionless and unfocused, the more we learn about him the easier it is to see how wrong that assumption is.
The majority of the story concentrates on the development of Isaac and Adam’s relationship, with a side plot of a stalker-ish fan of Isaac’s getting just a bit too creepy. Honestly, the story could have gone without that part and I’d have been totally fine with it since the evolution of Isaac and Adam’s relationship would have been enough to tell a full story. But it does add that little something extra to up the drama factor, and also eventually leads to another dramatic point between Issac and Adam late in the story.
I’m not sure why, but it was really hard for me to picture the characters’ physical selves with this story…Isaac more so than Adam. This made it a bit more difficult for me to play the scenes out in my head as I was reading, but in the end it didn’t affect my rating for the story.
A Kind of Home was a solid 4-star read for me, and while it is part of a series it can definitely be read as a standalone. If you love friends to lovers, this will be a great story for you, and if you love rockstar romance you’ll get that bonus here as well. This story is for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
June 23, 2017
REVIEWED FOR LOVE BYTES
We’re back with the guys from Spiral and this story concentrates on Isaac, their guitarist, whose cross dressing and silly antics have made him almost as popular as their lead singer Rand with their fans. The boys are coming to the end of their tour, they are tired and tetchy and in desperate need of some down time. Isaac has picked up a fan that appears to be stalking him and to top a bad week off when he returns to his apartment after months away his best friend’s brother is camping out there and he just happens to be the man he used to have a crush on!
Did I say used to?
Adam is recently divorced but until then had been in a relationship that had been on a downer for what felt like forever. Leaving behind his small town, his family, his ex and her family he just needs some time away from it all before he starts the next phase of his life. Hiding out in his old friends apartment seemed like a good idea until Isaac returns and the sexual tension easily surpasses boiling point. With a rockstar that only does one night stands with no repeats and an old friend who everyone assumes is straight things become complicated very quickly.
Isaac is a very down to earth rockstar and the music has always been the thing of importance in the sometimes unravelling life that is fame. Dropped by his parents he left his small hometown and never looked back. He doesn’t always open up to his bandmates as much as he should – Isaac is very self-contained and when Adam storms back into his life that containment is threatened.
Adam was like a hurricane blowing through Isaac’s apartment and his life. He shook things up and didn’t back down too easily – everything was done with a laugh and a smile. Their friendship was everything and that friendship lead to trust especially for Adam who was finally being honest about who he really was.
The stalker fits in nicely to the story but doesn’t overpower it. Towards the ending they suffer a wobble in their new relationship and I was disappointed with both of them at this point. There was never any doubt that they would sort things out however and as always Lane gave her boys their deserved happy ending.
We’re back with the guys from Spiral and this story concentrates on Isaac, their guitarist, whose cross dressing and silly antics have made him almost as popular as their lead singer Rand with their fans. The boys are coming to the end of their tour, they are tired and tetchy and in desperate need of some down time. Isaac has picked up a fan that appears to be stalking him and to top a bad week off when he returns to his apartment after months away his best friend’s brother is camping out there and he just happens to be the man he used to have a crush on!
Did I say used to?
Adam is recently divorced but until then had been in a relationship that had been on a downer for what felt like forever. Leaving behind his small town, his family, his ex and her family he just needs some time away from it all before he starts the next phase of his life. Hiding out in his old friends apartment seemed like a good idea until Isaac returns and the sexual tension easily surpasses boiling point. With a rockstar that only does one night stands with no repeats and an old friend who everyone assumes is straight things become complicated very quickly.
Isaac is a very down to earth rockstar and the music has always been the thing of importance in the sometimes unravelling life that is fame. Dropped by his parents he left his small hometown and never looked back. He doesn’t always open up to his bandmates as much as he should – Isaac is very self-contained and when Adam storms back into his life that containment is threatened.
Adam was like a hurricane blowing through Isaac’s apartment and his life. He shook things up and didn’t back down too easily – everything was done with a laugh and a smile. Their friendship was everything and that friendship lead to trust especially for Adam who was finally being honest about who he really was.
The stalker fits in nicely to the story but doesn’t overpower it. Towards the ending they suffer a wobble in their new relationship and I was disappointed with both of them at this point. There was never any doubt that they would sort things out however and as always Lane gave her boys their deserved happy ending.
June 24, 2017
This was very nearly perfect. I love friends to lovers, this did not disappoint.
There were two things that didn't impress me, but neither were enough to warrant a lower rating:
A. The stalker storyline was anticlimactic, though I'm happy it was resolved before anyone got hurt too bad;
B. Isaac pushing Adam away. I know he had his reasons, but I wish he hadn't gone there.
All in all, another fantastic addition to the series. And I'm sad it's over.
There were two things that didn't impress me, but neither were enough to warrant a lower rating:
A. The stalker storyline was anticlimactic, though I'm happy it was resolved before anyone got hurt too bad;
B. Isaac pushing Adam away. I know he had his reasons, but I wish he hadn't gone there.
All in all, another fantastic addition to the series. And I'm sad it's over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2017
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
Isaac is the only member of the band Spiral who doesn’t have a life partner, but Lane Hayes remedies that with this story. Isaac left home as a teen when his parents broke up and his (adoptive) father kicked him out for being gay. He was so done with Springville, his small PA hometown, and the only thing good he could say about it was the fun he had with his friend Ned McBride, Ned’s family, and Ned’s brother Adam. Though Adam was straight, Isaac always had a crush on the brawny football player with a sense of humor and a gorgeous smile.
When he returns home to his Manhattan penthouse after the latest worldwide tour of his phenomenally successful band, he’s surprised to find Adam McBride is there. Through Ned, he had given permission for Adam to crash at his place while Adam was recovering from his divorce and deciding what direction his life should take. Unfortunately, he worked for his ex-wife’s father so he lost the job along with the marriage and is currently working part-time at a bar and part-time as a dog walker. And he has no plans to leave soon.
Isaac has loved his sterile white apartment, its peace and quiet and solitude, but he grows accustomed to the happy-go-lucky Adam being there, leaving his big red Converse sneakers laying around, cooking meals for Isaac, and practicing his baking—something Adam took up as a relaxing hobby and now wants to pursue as a career. Much of the chaos keeps Isaac from worrying about the nutcase who seems to be stalking him—someone who refers to himself as his “biggest fan.” But the companionship turns to more after one night when the guys get a little tipsy and the inhibitions come down. Isaac learns that Adam is not as straight as he thought, and he learns exactly why Adam came to New York—and it wasn’t just to chill out after his divorce.
The men slowly, very slowly (something I love!) develop a relationship that goes beyond friends-with-benefits and becomes so much more. And when danger strikes, and Isaac’s emotions come to a head, it looks like the one-time loner may just be left alone after all.
I enjoyed Lane Hayes’s writing in this one, her character development, and the clever mystery about the psycho fan. I also loved the love story and the evolution of the friends to lovers theme.
I hope readers will enjoy this slow-burn romance as much as I did. The author’s reveal of the carefully hidden psycho and the oh-so-sweet ending of the book is sure to please lovers of MM romance as much as it did me. I recommend not only this book, but the whole series as well.
Isaac is the only member of the band Spiral who doesn’t have a life partner, but Lane Hayes remedies that with this story. Isaac left home as a teen when his parents broke up and his (adoptive) father kicked him out for being gay. He was so done with Springville, his small PA hometown, and the only thing good he could say about it was the fun he had with his friend Ned McBride, Ned’s family, and Ned’s brother Adam. Though Adam was straight, Isaac always had a crush on the brawny football player with a sense of humor and a gorgeous smile.
When he returns home to his Manhattan penthouse after the latest worldwide tour of his phenomenally successful band, he’s surprised to find Adam McBride is there. Through Ned, he had given permission for Adam to crash at his place while Adam was recovering from his divorce and deciding what direction his life should take. Unfortunately, he worked for his ex-wife’s father so he lost the job along with the marriage and is currently working part-time at a bar and part-time as a dog walker. And he has no plans to leave soon.
Isaac has loved his sterile white apartment, its peace and quiet and solitude, but he grows accustomed to the happy-go-lucky Adam being there, leaving his big red Converse sneakers laying around, cooking meals for Isaac, and practicing his baking—something Adam took up as a relaxing hobby and now wants to pursue as a career. Much of the chaos keeps Isaac from worrying about the nutcase who seems to be stalking him—someone who refers to himself as his “biggest fan.” But the companionship turns to more after one night when the guys get a little tipsy and the inhibitions come down. Isaac learns that Adam is not as straight as he thought, and he learns exactly why Adam came to New York—and it wasn’t just to chill out after his divorce.
The men slowly, very slowly (something I love!) develop a relationship that goes beyond friends-with-benefits and becomes so much more. And when danger strikes, and Isaac’s emotions come to a head, it looks like the one-time loner may just be left alone after all.
I enjoyed Lane Hayes’s writing in this one, her character development, and the clever mystery about the psycho fan. I also loved the love story and the evolution of the friends to lovers theme.
I hope readers will enjoy this slow-burn romance as much as I did. The author’s reveal of the carefully hidden psycho and the oh-so-sweet ending of the book is sure to please lovers of MM romance as much as it did me. I recommend not only this book, but the whole series as well.
January 29, 2025
Spiral has come a very long way since I first read book one in this series. They are definitely on their way to the top, having just finished the European leg of their first world tour, and now they're all home in New York and just needing to relax. None more so than Isaac, Spiral’s lead guitarist, who certainly doesn't expect to find the houseguest he agreed could crash at his place for a week or so in July, still in residence in September. It's not as if he doesn't like the guy, far from it, Adam starred in many a teenage fantasy, and they're still good friends. But Isaac wants to relax and get away from his fans and the sheer craziness that is involved with their meteoric rise to fame.
What starts out as Isaac agreeing, reluctantly, to a roommate, turns into something Isaac never expected and I don't think Adam did, either. Isaac is a half African-American child adopted by a white, emotionally, and physically distant couple. Growing up in his small town wasn't easy for him, particularly after his parents’ divorce, and his oasis was the McBride household. Ned was his best friend, he learned to play the guitar from Ned’s oldest brother, Ian, and he had a hopeless crush on gorgeous, straight Adam. Isaac still carries far too much baggage from his childhood that tends to influence a lot of his decisions. Adam just got divorced from his high school sweetheart and is in New York for a few months to “find himself”, so to speak, although he has always known he is bisexual. Having the opportunity to explore what kind of life he wants now, career, home, etc., is what this hiatus is supposed to be before returning to his hometown. The place Isaac despises.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
What starts out as Isaac agreeing, reluctantly, to a roommate, turns into something Isaac never expected and I don't think Adam did, either. Isaac is a half African-American child adopted by a white, emotionally, and physically distant couple. Growing up in his small town wasn't easy for him, particularly after his parents’ divorce, and his oasis was the McBride household. Ned was his best friend, he learned to play the guitar from Ned’s oldest brother, Ian, and he had a hopeless crush on gorgeous, straight Adam. Isaac still carries far too much baggage from his childhood that tends to influence a lot of his decisions. Adam just got divorced from his high school sweetheart and is in New York for a few months to “find himself”, so to speak, although he has always known he is bisexual. Having the opportunity to explore what kind of life he wants now, career, home, etc., is what this hiatus is supposed to be before returning to his hometown. The place Isaac despises.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
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