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Ruined
Hungry for a glimpse at the man who destroyed his marriage, Gus Fletcher follows Travis to watch him party and flirt without a care for what he's done. The man who slept with Gus's wife is gorgeous and willowy, a model, the utter opposite of Gus's muscled body and plumbing career. But the man needs help, and something about him tugs at Gus's heart and mind. What the hell is going on?
The hits keep coming for fashion model Travis Adius, who has to let the right people use him if he's to stay in the industry... and then some. He only walked away from one man: his abusive ex, who won't let go that easily. Life has him on his knees until he sees Gus. He wants Gus before he finds out he slept with Gus's wife... and, somehow, he doesn't stop wanting him. Gus has hands and nerves of steel, and a deep desire for revenge. Isn't it wrong to be this turned on by him?
Gus can't stop thinking about Travis. He should hate him, so why does he want to save him? Travis needs the comfort and safety of a man whose loyalty will stretch to the end of the earth. Is this all just a favor to be repaid? Once they meet, there's no turning back.
Are Gus and Travis ruined for anyone else?
Ruined is a standalone M/M suspense-filled romance which will make you ugly-cry like no other! Make sure you have a box of tissues to hand before you start reading!
The hits keep coming for fashion model Travis Adius, who has to let the right people use him if he's to stay in the industry... and then some. He only walked away from one man: his abusive ex, who won't let go that easily. Life has him on his knees until he sees Gus. He wants Gus before he finds out he slept with Gus's wife... and, somehow, he doesn't stop wanting him. Gus has hands and nerves of steel, and a deep desire for revenge. Isn't it wrong to be this turned on by him?
Gus can't stop thinking about Travis. He should hate him, so why does he want to save him? Travis needs the comfort and safety of a man whose loyalty will stretch to the end of the earth. Is this all just a favor to be repaid? Once they meet, there's no turning back.
Are Gus and Travis ruined for anyone else?
Ruined is a standalone M/M suspense-filled romance which will make you ugly-cry like no other! Make sure you have a box of tissues to hand before you start reading!
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2017
65 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 26, 2017
3.5 stars
I was sure this was going to be a 5 star read. It had a very strong start, but then the author when overboard with the angst. It was too much, and took away from my enjoyment of the relationship between the MCs.
For a debut novel, it wasn’t bad. There were some editing issues, but the author has potential.
I was sure this was going to be a 5 star read. It had a very strong start, but then the author when overboard with the angst. It was too much, and took away from my enjoyment of the relationship between the MCs.
For a debut novel, it wasn’t bad. There were some editing issues, but the author has potential.
December 19, 2023
Guy stalks the guy his wife cheated on him with and ends up falling for him after saving him from his abusive ex.
This was sweeter than I thought it would be, but also a bit longer than it should have been. I found myself skimming a lot of the inner monologues because they were a bit too cheesy for my taste.
TW: on page physical abuse from an ex more than once
This was sweeter than I thought it would be, but also a bit longer than it should have been. I found myself skimming a lot of the inner monologues because they were a bit too cheesy for my taste.
TW: on page physical abuse from an ex more than once
June 12, 2023
1.5 stars
This book started off good. I was all in as Gus confronts Travis, the man his wife cheated with, and winds up saving him from an attack by his abusive ex-boyfriend. But that promising start quickly devolved into a mess of cliches and over-the-top, eye-roll-inducing situations and dialogue. The weeks-long time jumps and the telling, not showing, did little to get me invested in the characters. Travis was the only one who I felt anything for throughout. I wound up skimming the last 25% of the story just to see how the abusive ex was resolved and I will admit that I was just a little bit happy with the way it did.
In the approximately 9 months this book covered, so much happens yet only the surface is scratched on everything. The insta-love, especially from Gus's end, was ridiculous and the interactions with his ex, Scarlett, were annoying. Gus, who never dated anyone besides Scarlett, and who was so devastated by her cheating he ended their relationship, gets over things pretty quickly. In fact, he also gets over being seriously injured in an explosion that kills his friend and employee pretty quickly too, so I guess that's just the way he is? So much about this book bothered me, I won't even bother to continue.
Suffice to say, I not only didn't ugly cry as promised in the author's blurb, I think I strained a muscle from all the eye-rolling. This was my first book by the author and probably my last. I just didn't click with the writing and we clearly have very different thresholds for what makes us ugly cry.
This was another rec from a FB group that promised angst and emotion. I've got to start doing better vetting of recs from this group.
This book started off good. I was all in as Gus confronts Travis, the man his wife cheated with, and winds up saving him from an attack by his abusive ex-boyfriend. But that promising start quickly devolved into a mess of cliches and over-the-top, eye-roll-inducing situations and dialogue. The weeks-long time jumps and the telling, not showing, did little to get me invested in the characters. Travis was the only one who I felt anything for throughout. I wound up skimming the last 25% of the story just to see how the abusive ex was resolved and I will admit that I was just a little bit happy with the way it did.
In the approximately 9 months this book covered, so much happens yet only the surface is scratched on everything. The insta-love, especially from Gus's end, was ridiculous and the interactions with his ex, Scarlett, were annoying. Gus, who never dated anyone besides Scarlett, and who was so devastated by her cheating he ended their relationship, gets over things pretty quickly. In fact, he also gets over being seriously injured in an explosion that kills his friend and employee pretty quickly too, so I guess that's just the way he is? So much about this book bothered me, I won't even bother to continue.
Suffice to say, I not only didn't ugly cry as promised in the author's blurb, I think I strained a muscle from all the eye-rolling. This was my first book by the author and probably my last. I just didn't click with the writing and we clearly have very different thresholds for what makes us ugly cry.
This was another rec from a FB group that promised angst and emotion. I've got to start doing better vetting of recs from this group.
September 29, 2022
Not for me. The circumstances surrounding this love triangle are too unbelievable for me. I found myself getting lost and wanting to skip forward to frequently. I did not enjoy it. Gus has no gay bone is his body but falls into insta I want him forever with the man his wife cheated on him with, Travis. I don't know guys but I didn't buy any of this shit for a second.
July 9, 2024
Re-read
This is the author's first book and I have to say it was a damn good one!
This is the author's first book and I have to say it was a damn good one!
June 11, 2017
So, as always, I want to say something positive, even though I was deeply disapointed. The premise was good and the first few scenes were truly well written. The emotions were there. I appreciated that Guy still felt strongly about his wife and was truly heartbroken about her betrayal. And Travis did start out as a complex character.
Then, ever so slowly, we went downhill. So much that I'm not exactly sure if this was supposed to be a satireof some sort. By the time that the ex was preagnant (of course she was), and the guys were just thrilled about it and squealing about how cute the baby would be if it was Travis's and how amazing it would be if it were Gus's. What. The. Fuck.
Also, your wife has just cheated on you, now she wants to take all your money. How do you react? By tellin her she will always be your best friend and that you'll always be there for her. Again. What. The. Fuck.
So totally not the book for me.
One star.
Then, ever so slowly, we went downhill. So much that I'm not exactly sure if this was supposed to be a satireof some sort. By the time that the ex was preagnant (of course she was), and the guys were just thrilled about it and squealing about how cute the baby would be if it was Travis's and how amazing it would be if it were Gus's. What. The. Fuck.
Also, your wife has just cheated on you, now she wants to take all your money. How do you react? By tellin her she will always be your best friend and that you'll always be there for her. Again. What. The. Fuck.
So totally not the book for me.
One star.
June 5, 2017
This book is so confusing. All the relationships are changing from hot to cold in an instant which gets quite annoying. It tells us more about the relationships instead of showing us how the relationships change. It wasn't a bad book per se but very forgettable.
June 4, 2017
I am not sure what to write, a bit of confusing this book.
Travis is gay and had a one night stand with a woman.
Gus is the woman's husband.
He found out about the them sleeping together and started following Travis around to find out why him and what did he had to offer his wife.
Travis had an abusive ex and Gus saved him, from there the formed a kind of friendship.
Next Gus is thinking about Travis in a sexual way.....my mind boggles from there.
ok so I persevered, then Scarlette the wife in question was Gus back and he is professing to love her... from then I'm wondering what's happening.
Eventually is love....
I think you need to form your own opinion on this book...I'm stomped.
stomped but it did keep my interest.
Travis is gay and had a one night stand with a woman.
Gus is the woman's husband.
He found out about the them sleeping together and started following Travis around to find out why him and what did he had to offer his wife.
Travis had an abusive ex and Gus saved him, from there the formed a kind of friendship.
Next Gus is thinking about Travis in a sexual way.....my mind boggles from there.
ok so I persevered, then Scarlette the wife in question was Gus back and he is professing to love her... from then I'm wondering what's happening.
Eventually is love....
I think you need to form your own opinion on this book...I'm stomped.
stomped but it did keep my interest.
June 7, 2017
3☆
Confusing read.
Labels didn't matter really in this story which I liked very much but all the relationships in this story were running hot&cold .
I think I would love to be shown rather than told how all the relationships progressed
Confusing read.
Labels didn't matter really in this story which I liked very much but all the relationships in this story were running hot&cold .
I think I would love to be shown rather than told how all the relationships progressed
not-interested
June 4, 2017Don't like cheaters.
June 6, 2017
A good book for a rainy day.
June 8, 2017
Very much of a mixed bad, though in my eyes the good makes up for the bad. On the flip side, one is hard pressed to swallow the utter lack of motivation behind the acts of the broken love triangle : the scorned husband Gus who never apparently had a gay bone before falls into instant lust with Travis, his mulish wife Scarlett decides to cheat on übersexy Gus with Travis once (without the writer ever telling us why) and after a short stage of confusion jumps with gusto from the status of spouse to that of best friend / facilitator, and finally the bisexual man-whore, up-and-coming supermodel Travis who collects abusive boyfriends finds his white hat in Gus yet cannot seem to want to take a stand and commit to what he covets. All three characters spend the entire book blowing hot and cold with little measure, which soon becomes all the more maddening that the writing piles cliché upon cliché. Gus is the buzz cut, golden-hearted man mountain with the (predicably) huge endowment and alpha-type bravado, Travis the deeply insecure, ethereally beautiful beta-type who has very low self-esteem therefore needs to fuck his way into people's radars, Scarlett the ruthless businesswoman with Everest-sized aspirations (author's parlance) and the body to match her gifts. Absurdities which seem to stem from a very skewed vision of the worlds of modelling and small business bely this overblown picture : we do not know exactly what Scarlett does in the modelling industry save that she is insanely beautiful and a formed failed supermodel, Gus though a successful plumber works from his storage area with no office whatsoever, Travis reasons as a man in his late thirties despite his only twenty-two years and is able to charm the pants of everyone who glances at him, the abusive Brandon, in spite of being a mere technician / enabler in the modelling industry (what he does exactly is not made clear), is loved by everyone in the business and thus could destroy Travis' career with one word, etc. The writer does not even spare us the life-threatening accident and the surprise baby (Travis' with Scarlett) just in time to jump-start the plot. On the face side, the contrived interactions of the characters and excessive drama do not detract too much from the heat Gus and Travy generate from the start ; we root for them and impatiently wait for their HEA. Guess I was in the right mood for a cheesy, corny, formulaic romance...
January 24, 2023
Digamos que comienza con peso. Las primeras escenas expresan una situación alentadora para el lector: tenemos un culebrón que no se sabe cómo va a terminar pero a medida que todo el peso de la ley cae y se abre el telón, la obra pasa a ser una exposición de uñas acrílicas en medio de un salón de juego de billar. Sin sentido, carente de emoción, aburrido y súper soso. Se crea el cliché de amor por protección y una deuda con el matrimonio y la lealtad que no permite treguas. Es absurdo.
Lamentablemente para el personaje de Travis hay mucho que decir: el hecho que sea modelo y que tenga la cara como un ángel tampoco le hace menos hombre que Brandon y que Gus, podía defenderse, podía hablar, podía ser la persona que defendiera sus ideales, esta idea de bobo sumiso que hay que proteger del mal, me dio mas pena y vergüenza ajena que condolencias o misericordia.
No dan ni para un chicle.
Rescatar la buena intención de Drake, hay un ligero morbo por el heteronormativo que se perdie cuando comienza a ceder tan fácil el impulso ante la cordura. Esto tarda más que un álbum de Adele. No es algo tan fácil aunque sea una mera fantasía.
Lamentablemente para el personaje de Travis hay mucho que decir: el hecho que sea modelo y que tenga la cara como un ángel tampoco le hace menos hombre que Brandon y que Gus, podía defenderse, podía hablar, podía ser la persona que defendiera sus ideales, esta idea de bobo sumiso que hay que proteger del mal, me dio mas pena y vergüenza ajena que condolencias o misericordia.
No dan ni para un chicle.
Rescatar la buena intención de Drake, hay un ligero morbo por el heteronormativo que se perdie cuando comienza a ceder tan fácil el impulso ante la cordura. Esto tarda más que un álbum de Adele. No es algo tan fácil aunque sea una mera fantasía.
June 9, 2017
Rating: 2.5 stars
I think my biggest problem with this book is I just didn't buy the premise. First of all, it was a GFY story and I'm not a big fan of those to begin with. Next the story wants me to believe that not only does Gus fall in love with a man, but he falls in love with the man that slept with his wife. I just wasn't buying it.
The story did a good job of making you sympathize with Travis. The author put the blame squarely on Gus's wife's shoulder. That part I did find believable.
I think I could have liked this story if Gus had expressed some leaning toward liking men prior to meeting Travis. The fact that he was in love with and slept with just one woman his whole life and then just suddenly met and fell in love with Travis exceeded my believability factor.
I think my biggest problem with this book is I just didn't buy the premise. First of all, it was a GFY story and I'm not a big fan of those to begin with. Next the story wants me to believe that not only does Gus fall in love with a man, but he falls in love with the man that slept with his wife. I just wasn't buying it.
The story did a good job of making you sympathize with Travis. The author put the blame squarely on Gus's wife's shoulder. That part I did find believable.
I think I could have liked this story if Gus had expressed some leaning toward liking men prior to meeting Travis. The fact that he was in love with and slept with just one woman his whole life and then just suddenly met and fell in love with Travis exceeded my believability factor.
Read
May 7, 2023Enjoyed the first half of the book with the angst of MMC1 looking for answers in MMC2 as to why his wife cheated on him and the poor broken woobie of MMC2.
The last third of the book was a bit eh complete with:
- a dramatic third-act break-up over a Big Misunderstanding
- the wife
-the villain of the piece .
Heat level
On-page sex, cringey anatomical descriptions (pink rosebud!) and cheesy dirty talk. I will never find the word cum hot.
The last third of the book was a bit eh complete with:
- a dramatic third-act break-up over a Big Misunderstanding
- the wife
-the villain of the piece .
Heat level
On-page sex, cringey anatomical descriptions (pink rosebud!) and cheesy dirty talk. I will never find the word cum hot.
July 29, 2017
2.5 Stars
The one thing I'm left with after reading this story is, confusion. There were things I really, really liked but there were other things that had me wondering WTH?! Unfortunately the things I had trouble with almost completely overshadowed a beautiful love story. I loved Gus and Travis and I even liked Gus's ex Scarlett although there were things about that whole situation I thought was over the top but then so were some of the things that went on between Gus and Travis.
Yup, confused! As a debut novel it wasn't bad, I see promise and I look forward to what else this author has in store.
July 17, 2017
I LOVED THIS BOOK
OMG!! I loved this story from beginning to end. Gus is a salt of the earth plumber. He is hard working, and looks like a body builder. Oh and he's married. Travis is an up and coming model. He is so ethereal, even the camera can't capture his beauty. Gus and Travis come together under the most dire of circumstances. Neither one knows how the other is going to impact their life. This was a MAGNIFICENT story of their journey. The ups and downs, in and outs, this story never loses focus or direction. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!
OMG!! I loved this story from beginning to end. Gus is a salt of the earth plumber. He is hard working, and looks like a body builder. Oh and he's married. Travis is an up and coming model. He is so ethereal, even the camera can't capture his beauty. Gus and Travis come together under the most dire of circumstances. Neither one knows how the other is going to impact their life. This was a MAGNIFICENT story of their journey. The ups and downs, in and outs, this story never loses focus or direction. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!
June 30, 2017
Quite an entertaining read with plenty of angst.
Gus shocked me with the ease with which he accepted that he wanted a man and got down with it.
Travis had my heart. He bone deep need to be loved pulled at my heartstrings and I cried for him multiple times.
Scarlett was about the most annoying woman character I have EVER read in any book!! How could she have the nerve to be upset about anything? I didn't find her beautiful, strong, or a force to be reckoned with. She was a Whiney Whore!!
Gus shocked me with the ease with which he accepted that he wanted a man and got down with it.
Travis had my heart. He bone deep need to be loved pulled at my heartstrings and I cried for him multiple times.
Scarlett was about the most annoying woman character I have EVER read in any book!! How could she have the nerve to be upset about anything? I didn't find her beautiful, strong, or a force to be reckoned with. She was a Whiney Whore!!
July 30, 2017
I wish that Travis' story with Brandon wasn't brushed over and resolved so quickly, because it was in those scenarios that you felt the love between Travis and Gus the most. Other than that, it seemed a little unbelievable that they could fall for each other like they did. The resolving of the drama was too smooth, and I don't think I would trust that easily again. Also, it was hard to figure out if Travis loved GUS or the protection and confirmation he received from him.
June 10, 2017
AWESOME READ!
This book was so good that I couldn't put it down. The love between Gus and Travis was beautiful. Gus wanted to hurt Travis for sleeping with his wife Scarlett, however, he fell in love with Travis himself. The relationship between Scarlett, Gus, and Travis was awesome. I was really glad that Brandon got what he deserved. Can't wait to read more from this author.
This book was so good that I couldn't put it down. The love between Gus and Travis was beautiful. Gus wanted to hurt Travis for sleeping with his wife Scarlett, however, he fell in love with Travis himself. The relationship between Scarlett, Gus, and Travis was awesome. I was really glad that Brandon got what he deserved. Can't wait to read more from this author.
August 19, 2017
When I read the blurb, I had no idea how this was going to work. Seriously, straight guy falls for guy who cheated with said straight guys wife? Who am I going to root for in this? I decided, what the hell, I'll give it a go. I am so glad I did. What a happy surprise this one was.
Recommended
Recommended
January 18, 2018
3.25 ⭐️
This writer packs a lot of action into her writing, bit not a huge amount of realism. That doesn’t mean this wasn’t a good book, I quite enjoyed it you just need to suspend reality. She really knows how to hear things up as well. I’d have liked a bit more character development and a tad less plot, and maybe a smidgen more editing for this to get a higher rating from me.
This writer packs a lot of action into her writing, bit not a huge amount of realism. That doesn’t mean this wasn’t a good book, I quite enjoyed it you just need to suspend reality. She really knows how to hear things up as well. I’d have liked a bit more character development and a tad less plot, and maybe a smidgen more editing for this to get a higher rating from me.
November 13, 2022
Had the potential to be a great read but felt lacking. With so many plot points the story could have benefited from more length or dividing the story into a duet with the first book focus on the development of the MCs relationship and the second dealing with the bomb dropped by the main female character.
August 29, 2023
5/10
this book was too good to be true
it started off so well…
then it devolved into just weird and cliched
things happen just to happen
the characters self narrate their thoughts, which is not what people normally do
the dialogue was awkward
gus just forgave scarlett???
one of his employee just dies??? huh???
this entire book is just a mess after the start
this book was too good to be true
it started off so well…
then it devolved into just weird and cliched
things happen just to happen
the characters self narrate their thoughts, which is not what people normally do
the dialogue was awkward
gus just forgave scarlett???
one of his employee just dies??? huh???
this entire book is just a mess after the start
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this story.. it had drama and angst.. it had amazing spots of hurt and anger and love and betrayal.. it had sexyness and love.. plus i loved the added drama of the ex boyfriend.. this was all together a good story
June 21, 2017
Irks:
super monogamy, slut-shaming, improbable scenarios and silly resolution.
Likes:
Not unreadable.
Good bones: straight monogamous hottie stalks a guy who slept with his wife, and winds up falling in love with him. Their budding relationship survives a violent stalker ex-boyfriend, a workplace accident, an unintended pregnancy, and different forms of insecurity on both sides.
super monogamy, slut-shaming, improbable scenarios and silly resolution.
Likes:
Not unreadable.
Good bones: straight monogamous hottie stalks a guy who slept with his wife, and winds up falling in love with him. Their budding relationship survives a violent stalker ex-boyfriend, a workplace accident, an unintended pregnancy, and different forms of insecurity on both sides.
July 7, 2017
Fantastic
I knew that I had to read this book as soon as I read the blurb. How crazy must things be for Gus to fall for the man who cuckolded him? And yet, I thought that the protectiveness and care that he felt for Travis was so beautiful.
I knew that I had to read this book as soon as I read the blurb. How crazy must things be for Gus to fall for the man who cuckolded him? And yet, I thought that the protectiveness and care that he felt for Travis was so beautiful.
June 30, 2018
It started out great and could have been a 5-stars read but then the relationship between he 2 MCs developed too quickly. There were a lot of confusing moments. And I have the feeling some important conversation were skipped.It was still enjoyable.
June 4, 2017
Nice
This story had a different spin to it. There were a few intense moments and there were a few that made you cringe. The author did a great job of developing the main characters.
This story had a different spin to it. There were a few intense moments and there were a few that made you cringe. The author did a great job of developing the main characters.
June 15, 2017
Good story but a little rushed at the end
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews