Hidden Currents

by Jerry Cole

Jason likes to think he’s outdoorsy. He hikes, he runs, he makes bad decisions on mountain bikes with his best friend. If he weren’t stuck in his office job with his insane boss and his busy schedule, he might even have time to go camping.

But when his boss gets involved in a high-publicity scandal and needs to spend some time away from civilization, Jason thinks he might be in over his head. Not only do he and his coworkers get dragged away into the heart of the Alaskan backcountry, but they’re also stuck with a gruff hunk of a fishing guide who is dangerously handsome and lamentably straight. Jason’s been unlucky enough in love, and this new unreciprocated crush just makes him miserable.

Nick isn’t exactly ecstatic to be working with Jason and his colleagues, either. The company’s CEO is a handful at the best of times, and one of his fellow guides winds up fueling his ego and his dangerous hijinks. To make matters even more stressful, he develops a fixation he can’t explain with the CEO’s gay assistant.

As the two work together to corral Jason’s boss, they find that they have a lot in common. Nick isn’t interested in men, but with Jason he just might make an exception. It doesn’t take long for things to get hot and heavy, and Nick is confronted with desires he’s never thought about and doesn’t want to explain to himself.

Please This book contains Adult Language & Steamy Adult Activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approx. 80,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger".

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 26, 2017

About the author

Jerry Cole is a gay author who lives in California & enjoys writing love stories. Jerry has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings & on weekends. Jerry started writing gay romance stories several years ago, but initially just for his own entertainment & occasionally sharing stories with his friends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” & took up writing gay romance full time. When he’s not writing steamy M/M romance he enjoys globetrotting, watching movies with family and friends, working out, & being dragged down the road by his two Great Danes.

Reviews

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** A funny, sexy, exciting adventure ! ***
This is a funny upbeat story of Nick, realizing he's got feelings for Jason, not just any guy, only Jason. So, this is a GFY, gay-for-you tale that is well done. First we get glimpses into each man's life.
Jason, 30, worked for a Tech company with

a crazy CEO, Ander. Ander causes a scandal and the main staff all goes to Alaska to get away while things settle. It's a Nature Trip to hide out for ten days.
Meanwhile, Nick, 28, has lost his girlfriend,

house and business, and is at a crossroads. He's hanging out and gets an opportunity to make money. He leads the expedition in Alaska. YEP ! It's the crazy CEO and his staff.
This is funny, witty, and still serious at times. Nick is drawn to Jason, but hasn't figured out why. Jason is accommodating, by giving Nick a look at M/M sexiness and by the end of the trip, they are really hot together.

Like a few others I would like to have seen more of these two as a couple post adventure. But, no worries, we do get our HEA and we are happy.

Jerry Cole's characters are lively and wild, plus sweet and loving. I loved the big Amazon woman bodyguard, and the smaller gal, too. Both ex-military, and so fabulous.
This is new, fun, different, fresh and worthwhile.
ENJOY !
==========

[Meep · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, it kept my attention, which not many books are doing lately. Primarily it's an adventure story, bunch of misfits camping in the wilds, romance is a low second priority. There's need, GFY written as believable for the character, coming to terms. No fluffy romanticised feelings, though the end has feel-good moments.

Boss Anders is Bat-shit crazy. Which was kind of amusing. Would have liked a little more Raj I think, he seemed interesting. Laura the ex-military body-guard was great. I was cheering the Elk.

Loved that Jason didn't fall into distressed-damsel mould. He's fit and capable throughout. His job is getting him down but he faces challenges head on.
Nick, Mr Wilderness expert is less mature, he lives his life on a pretty basic need-supply premise.
They both have their strengths.

Didn't find it big on emotion, not every feel is analysed on page, but there was enough there.
Would have liked a little more at the end but there's no cliffhanger, it ends at a good place.

5* maybe generous but I enjoyed it.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a boss that drives you crazy, you have to read Jerry Cole’s new book “Hidden Current”. Well, Jason, as well as other employees, has his work cut out for him as an assistant to his boss, CEO Ander Anderson of AnTek Company. Ander’s a needy, selfish, crazy man always looking to enlighten people of his point of view of the world.

Even though the man has lots of money from his business, he has no filter for his mouth and ends up in many highly publicity scandals. This last big huge scandal send his advisors, bodyguards, and Jason on a wild adventure – basically to go into hiding for awhile.

Jason’s side-kick, Laura sticks by his side through thick and thin. Laura’s one of Anderson’s bodyguard. She and Jason are great friends and she tries to help Jason reduce his stress by having a life for himself outside of work. But Ander is in trouble so often Jason feels he can have a “normal” life.

It’s on this quickly schedule fishing trip out in the furthest Alaskan backcountry called ’43 Wilderness. A place that is extremely difficult to get all the necessary permits to allow a group to go out there. Out of all the pamphlets this is the one Ander’s was most happy with.

Nick’s a fishing guide and free-lance book reviewer. He’s gruff sounding, an incredible handsome straight man that has just come out of a relationship with a woman he thought they’d been together for a long time. Doesn’t happen and she kicks him out of the relationship, their house, and their business for another man.

Nursing his broken heart, Nick spent two months in seclusion from the world. His girlfriend was the people person in their business that Nick wasn’t, but was a great fishing guide. After Nick has a run in was a female moose and takes a bruising from boulders in a river after a mishap getting away from the creature.

Now he’s low on money and spends part of it to go to the “Batcaves” that has natural hot springs to help heal his bruises and aching body and unknown to Nick clothing is optional. It was here that Nick runs into an old high school classmate, Peggy Andrews. Peggy works for the Huntsman’s a guiding tour company that she offers Nick a job to be their fishing guide. Nick’s very hesitant about taking the job but takes her business card to call if he changes his mind.

When Nick has almost run out of money, the need for a job had become number one on his list. With nothing else lined-up he calls Peggy and accepts the job. This is where the fun begins for both Jason and Nick but for different reasons. Ander Anderson is nothing but a pain in the butt the whole trip for everyone involved. The only person that could calm him down was Jason and a spiritual guide, Steve.

Jerry gives us a wealth of adventure the group has. There’s a lot of whining, fussing, and out bursts from Ander Anderson that drives Nick insane. It takes all Nick’s patience to get through a day with the man. Nick thought Jason was with Ander as a couple and Jason set him straight the minute Nick asked Jason about them.

So yeah, the shy, inexperience straight man who knows the only man he’s been attracted to is Jason. No other man had ever caught his attention in a sexual manner until Jason. If you like straight to gay stories this one is really adorable. The story is love, friendship and danger with a twist of fear in your gut along the way. I really loved this story and I would recommend it.
***I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review. ***

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Hidden Currents” is a MM romance by Jerry Cole.

Jason’s an outdoorsy type of guy - he likes to spend his free time running and cycling with his best friend. But when his whiny boss gets himself in trouble and Jason and his coworkers are forced to go camping he isn’t too happy. Especially when he meets their fishing guide and develops crush on him.
Nick isn’t people person, but his account balance leaves him no choice, but to take this job. He’s not in a good place after a bad break up, add to that a weird attraction he feels towards Jason, Jason’s insane boss and it seems like it’s gonna be long 10 days.

I liked this one. It captured my attention and I had no problem with getting into the story. The plot was more focused on adventures and Andrew’s shenanigans, than on romance between Jason and Nick, but I enjoyed it anyway. Andrew’s behavior was both funny and super annoying - I’m surprised no one killed him.
As for characters - I liked both Jason and Nick. They were both great guys, although in slightly different way. Jason was charming and nice and was doing everything to make everyone happy. Nick on the other hand was grumpy and gruff, but he changed a little towards the end of the book.
All in all, it was a pleasure to read their adventures. Recommended!

[Jody-anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I was a beta-reader for this story, however I enjoyed it so much I have just bought it so that it is on my kindle shelf!

Jason & and his friend Laura work for Anders "disrupt the decision" Andersen, who gets himself and his company in some hot water, and one of the executives decides that taking the team to wilderness Alaska to escape the heat of the situation for a week or so is just what needs to be done, especially as Anders is having a major meltdown. Which is how Jason Meets Nick.

This is a funny story, not necessarily in a laugh out loud way, although I did have chuckles, but in that Zoolander way; where Derek is so himself in all his glory, so is Anders. His team just do their best to herd him through his existential crisises and out of whack vibes, energy flows, disrupt the decision etc. Absolutely loved his characterisation - I am a bit of a hippy and I am sure there have been times people have wanted to bitch-slap me when I say "in with the blue, out with the red" in negative or angry situations, but Anders is gold!

The story is told from both Nick and Jason's perspective, so you get some backstory to their characters. Liked them both individually and felt their coming together was organic.....none of this insta-lust and omg I have a boner every time I am in his vicinity.....more an awareness, an appreciation of something in the other that over the course of the trip turns into a bit of a situation as Nick is straight and Jason is not.

The story flows in a natural way, there a few bits and pieces I felt could have been fleshed out, but did not take me out of the story into wondering 'did I miss something here?' The dialogue also felt natural -some other of Mr Cole's stories I have felt like the conversations were stilted and people having monologues to explain something - this was much more a give and take of people talking. The descriptions of where they are, how they felt, what they stay in, the other team members, the Alaskan wilderness and fly fishing were excellent ( to someone who knows nothing about these things ) and I felt like an extra team member dealing with these situations which kept arising.

Thoroughly enjoyable and recommended read. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Leaving this review as a purchaser. I am generally hesitate to purchase a book that has too many ARC reviews vs purchaser reviews. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, most times I wonder if some of them have even read a book before or are pandering, as the books were ho-hum/awful/ ill-written. I received an ARC of this novel prior to it's going live on Amazon.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my Gosh. Where do I even start? This book was such a mess.

Mostly, I am just really shocked by how incredibly stupid every single character was. As in they had no common sense whatsoever. Like, NONE.
I spend my summer working as a guide in the tourism industry, and let me tell you this: client safety is ALWAYS more important than client satisfaction. Always. If a client wants to do something that I consider to be unsafe, it's not fecking happening.
So to see those absolute morons in this book make one insane decision that puts everyone at risk after antoher... I'm sorry, but no. Just no. There's only so much stupidity that I can take. Nick, who was supposed to be a professional tour guide, knowingly endangered all his clients on multiple occasions instead of just putting his foot down. Aborting their trip would have been the only sensible decision.

Unfortunately, I also found the writing to be rather weak and the romance very much underdeveloped - the MCs don't even meet until 25% in but then fall in love after having known each other for less than two weeks, most of which they spent not even looking at each other. The aprupt time jumps and awkward dialogue didn't help either.

I am very sorry, but this book was not for me.

[Aelfwina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most of this book made zero sense - as in there was no logic, no noticeable character development, not even a hint that the author knew what Alaska was, and paragraphs jumped around for no reason.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do wish there were more at the end to tie the two together and bring a real resolution to the couple as well as the story, but overall there was sweetness, confusion, frustration, pride, drama, and two men who finally found the person that could be exactly what they need in a partner.

4 stars was for the overall picture and not the collection of moments, if that makes sense. If I were to look at just the relationship I would be hard pressed to go above a 2.5 because Nick was rude, confused, selfish, and kind of a prick. There were lots of moments that could have been better with him at least being kind to Jason. Jason was having a hard time standing up for himself. Even when he instigated physical contact it was soon after squashed by Nick. There were lots of times I could see what Jason should do for work but his realization didn't come for eons...that was frustrating too.

Anders was hilariously outrageous in all the horrible ways someone can be when they're in charge of too much money. Laura was great for her support of Jason and her attitude toward everyone that happened. Raj had potential but he wasn't on the page too much so I liked more the idea of him. Sketchy Steve was, well, totally sketchy from beginning to end. All together there was an eclectic cast that aided and abetted all the insanity. It wasn't unrealistic for Jason and Nick to find each other in the sea of crazy.

Overall, I really liked the story. I liked Nick's forced confession of his feelings even though he was confused. I didn't really like all the time spent getting to the point at the hippie spa, but it laid ground work for later so it was forgivable. I liked Jason not always playing the typical uke to Nick's mountain man type of dominance. Together they were good and I think I like everything more for what I hope and see for them than was actually on the page. The ending really needed more. It was too abrupt and needed way more feels. I liked this more for the story's potential and the hope I had for it than what was actually here.

I read and reviewed this book willingly as an ARC I received from the author.

[Ekollon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes the ratings on GoodReads are hard to determine, and when I say this is 3 stars, I mean it firmly in the "and I liked it but didn't love it" category, but really my feelings are more mixed than that. The first issue is that I almost didn't finish the book because it's so incredibly slow to get going; I swear it the characters didn't really have anything to do with each other for something akin to the first half of the book, and even after they got physically intimate, it was slow for the relationship to get going. In some books this is acceptable or even a good thing, but in this book it wasn't because I really wasn't interested in reading as much about the hardships of fly-fishing and the like as I did. This part of the story hovered around a 2 star for me.

On the other hand I really liked the second half of the book where Jason and Nick were on their little solo adventure; that part of the story was probably a solid 4 star or even a 5 star for me. I liked seeing their relationship evolve and how they interacted with each other once it became clear to them that they did in fact need to interact.

I might have rated the book a little higher (4 star) instead of what I did (3 star) as an average for the two parts of the book if the ending hadn't been so abrupt. As it was, I ended up not liking the very end of the book very much, either, because it seemed like it came out of nowhere and needed to be expanded on further.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry has written a real adventure for us this time. Jason and his fellow workers are stuck trying to keep their boss from making huge mistakes and crossing the line in business that would destroy the company. Nick lost his fly fishing partner and girlfriend and has gone to the wilderness to lick his wounds. Unable to stop a highly public "gaff" by their boss, their boss insists they go on a wilderness fishing trip. Jason packs up for a "Getaway" that he knows his going to be the one from hell. In the meantime, Nick has a run in with a moose and survives, but has real wounds to lick now. Meeting a past schoolmate, he is persuaded to join their alaska guiding company. Now Nick and Jason are stuck together. What turns out to be some actual fun soon becomes dangerous. Betrayal, criminal activity, danger, betrayal water falls, fast water, crazy bosses, redefining one's sexuality, fishing on the fly, lies, loyal friends, discovering your inner strength, hot sex and finding love. An excellent HEA and you have the makings fro an excellent read. Grab a copy, you'll be glad you did. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book.

[~nikki the recovering book addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars!!!

I can't get over how everything is perfectly written in this book! I love the dialogue. I love the characters. I love the completeness of the characters and their backgrounds and the circumstances that bring them each to the same place. I love that you can actually see distinct personalities of each character in the book, not just the MCs.

This has got to be one of the more substantial and meaty books I've read this year. I'm so impressed with Jerry Cole right now. I also love how Jerry Cole's become like a subject expert in fishing and camping! Oh, and the dialogues!! They're so realistic! There was one where, like, the girl, like, you know, sounded exactly, like, a teenager, like, today sounds like. Obviously, I don't do as good a job as Jerry Cole =P

This was absolutely brilliant. My only complaint was it wasn't a couple of chapters longer. I wouldn't oppose to a dozen chapters more either. It could go on for another hundred pages and I'd be in cloud nine. Lol!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was full of fun, adventure and love. Nick and Jason are wonderful characters, brought to life by the authors incredible writing. All the characters in the book made this story funny and exciting.
The Alaskan scenery with it fauna unfolded before me. The wildness and the cold landscape was vividly depicted throughout the story.
I couldn't put this book down I was so caught up in the adventure and eager to see where it took me. A beautiful story between Nick and Jason, two different men, each with a great personality, making them very likeable characters.
I loved this book, it was really well written keeping me laughing at the characters antics and on the edge of my seat with the sheer beauty of the setting.
This book deserves the 5 stars and I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.

[John-Torleif Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved both Nick and Jason! The chemistry that they had together was amazing, and I loved that there was a long, slow burn before they finally made it work.

Jason was the perfect mix of understanding of Nick's insecurities and determined not to be a dirty secret. He didn't give Nick an ultimatum, but he communicated firmly and clearly that he wasn't interested in pursuing anything with Nick if he wasn't fully invested.

Nick's struggles with coming to terms about his feelings for Jason felt realistic and were believable. I especially liked how his confusion was exacerbated by the fact that he wasn't attracted to men in general, but rather to Jason as a person. His crisis centered on the fact that his sexuality was more fluid than the blank and white boxes that society likes to impose.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The writing is smart and witty and the story is part adventure, part romance with a good dash of humour. This is an opposites attract story with Jason, a tightly wound gay executive assistant and Nick, a fly fishing guide recovering from a bad breakup with his girlfriend/business partner.

Much of the humour comes from Jason and the other staff of venture capitalist Anders Andersen trying to stop the egomaniac from creating yet another PR nightmare. The MCs meet on a company fishing trip in a remote part of Alaska. There is less "romance" in this book than most M/M romances. But I enjoyed watching the MCs discovering their feelings for each other in this unique setting. There are only a few love scenes, but they seem just right for Nick's first gay sex. Overall this is a well written, funny story with engaging characters on their adventure of a lifetime.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the book, especially when staff members were trying to corral the eccentric behaviors of their bat-shit-crazy boss, Anders. Seldom have I laughed my ass off out loud so many times when reading a book. Maybe it's because I've been in work situations with as equally disurbed individuals and humor helped me get through them. The romance between the two main characters was somewhat endearing, too. That's not to say there weren't some tense moments along the way to the HEA ending, but I don't want to spoil the book for anyone.

I was given a free, Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for sharing my honest and unbiased opinion about it.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent short read. Jason is being driven mad by his crazy boss and when said boss Anders gets into a spot of bother, he drags his team into the wilds of Alaska on a team building exercise. There we meet Nick their guide who becomes more and more drawn to Jason. He finds himself allowing Jason to do things even though he is straight. When Anders goes missing he and Jason head off to search for him and that is when the fireworks between them really start. Jason has already admitted he has feelings for Nick but will Nick ever be able to return them?

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author and was able to serve as a beta reader for him.

I really enjoyed the entire premise of the book, which was a totally new story line than any other book I've read. The characters were unique and the humor embedded made me laugh more than once. The snappy dialogue among the 'campers' and their guides was well written and the ending made me feel good.

If you've never been to Alaska, want to go to Alaska, or have been to Alaska, you'll find something to connect to. Almost a travel guide of things to do, and not to do!

[Kristian Erdmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love!!!

I loved this book so so much!! This book absolutely hooked me from the start. This has to be my favorite Jerry Cole book ever and that's saying a lot because I love his books. This books is backed with adventure lust longing and love ugh what more could you want. This book was amazingly well written with its descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness and wildlife and I loved Jason and Nick. There wasn't that awkward omg I can't do this freak out moment I hate in most stories. Then there are the side characters that are just as loveable. Great story!!

[Paisleyrowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a perfect mix of characters and locations. I lost sleep -- while taking sleep meds -- because this book is, to use an oldie but goodie, "un-put-down-able." This boss is insane, which leads me to believe either Jason's a saint or a little insane, too, to put up with him as well as he does.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this trip to the Alaskan back country! Add in a crazy boss, a Spiritual Advisor, bodyguards, assistants, and a guide who does not know what he is going to do with his life. Jason is trying to make his life work, but working for a crazy boss has him searching for another job with his friend Laura. Nick's life has been turned upside down very recently and attempting to face feelings toward Jason only add to his confusion. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters, funny, witty, kinda crazy. An adventure deep in the mountains of Alaska with a few office executives and a rough guide. Jason is the gay assistant to the crazy boss who falls for the very straight guide Nick. Jason and his friend Laura find the outdoors fun but this trip will change his life. Very entertaining story, Anders rants are difficult to follow but that's part of the character.

[Kirbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Moly that was good

Oh boy that was one good book could not put it down I just love it I felt so bad for Nick and Jason trying to figure out was going on between them and especially Nick who was trying to figure out who he is

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I really liked it. it was very good.
the beginning was a little slow.
but I loved both MC's I thought they were great. and I thought the way the author handled the way that Nick was dealing with his confusion was great.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the adventure in this book and the supporting characters but the MCs seemed to have little chemistry. In fact I was surprised they ever got together at all or anything. Just seemed too far fetched but the story did hold my interest.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute and fun story to read.. had spots that made me laugh.. had spots i wanted to throw something at my kindle lol.. overall it was really enjoyable and i am glad i got to review it

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book quite hard to get into. I was going to give up but pushed through it. Found it much better toward the end

[Seona · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than a romance, funny yet complicated. Checking out his other books to see if he's generally an action romance writer.

[Esther Adetunji · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had a lot of hopes for this book, but the story was not very engaging, the characters were entirely too one dimensional and the romance plot between the two male protagonists was not believable.

[Kasey Croshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot Love Story

I love the outdoors and this book fed into those emotions. Nick was hot, straight and in need. Jason was his perfect gay-for-you lover.

[Daniel Odneal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Hit

Another hit by Mr. Cole.. a great combination of m/m romance and a great outdoors adventure. Wonderful characters throughout this story.