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As I Am
Chase Hansen. Broke. College drop out. Male stripper.
My life wasn't at all what I imagined it would be. I should have been finishing up college, interning with a well-respected business, partying with my friends. But instead, I was raising my seventeen year old brother, struggling to make ends meet. Love wasn't even on my radar. Besides, what did I have to offer? A few crumpled singles pulled from my G-string? Defeated and exhausted, I knew I had zero chance of finding someone to love me just as I am.
Noah Carpenter. Angry. Betrayed. Doctor.
Just when I thought my life was going exactly as it should, everything turned upside down. With my final rotation in medical school complete, I finally achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. What I never expected was to catch the man of my dreams in our bed with the man of his. Beyond infuriated, I struggled to piece together the remnants of my life. Just when I'd decided to give up on love altogether, I found a man who loved me just as I am.
This is the extended version of the short story which originally appeared in the Drunk in Love Anthology.
My life wasn't at all what I imagined it would be. I should have been finishing up college, interning with a well-respected business, partying with my friends. But instead, I was raising my seventeen year old brother, struggling to make ends meet. Love wasn't even on my radar. Besides, what did I have to offer? A few crumpled singles pulled from my G-string? Defeated and exhausted, I knew I had zero chance of finding someone to love me just as I am.
Noah Carpenter. Angry. Betrayed. Doctor.
Just when I thought my life was going exactly as it should, everything turned upside down. With my final rotation in medical school complete, I finally achieved my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. What I never expected was to catch the man of my dreams in our bed with the man of his. Beyond infuriated, I struggled to piece together the remnants of my life. Just when I'd decided to give up on love altogether, I found a man who loved me just as I am.
This is the extended version of the short story which originally appeared in the Drunk in Love Anthology.
302 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2017
154 people are currently reading
749 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Collins
29 books1,301 followersMelissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
April 22, 2018
3.5
A Stripper and a Doctor...
Chase Hansen, is in his final year of college when a devastating event turns his world upside down.He has no option other than to drop out of college and raise his 16 year old brother.He has to grow up fast and taking a job as stripper is far from ideal but the money's good and that's his main priority....providing for Benny.
Noah Carpenter ,doctor,thinks his life is going along nicely when he's betrayed by his boyfriend.He's left in pieces,struggling to get his life back on track and one night at work,exhausted by recent events something happens that he can't get out of his mind.
What I loved,
-Noah and Chase had great chemistry.They definitely fit together as a couple and the sex scenes are extremely hot and well written.
-I simply loved the relationship Chase had with his younger brother,Benny.He sacrificed so much to be there for him every step of the way.They might only have had each other but you get a great sense of family from them.
-When Chase and Noah got together,Noah was there for Benny as well and I loved him for that.Noah and Benny had an easy,believable relationship.
My only niggle here was that,at times,both men seemed quite immature at times and there was a lot of back and forth that could have been avoided.
Overall,an enjoyable story and the Epilogue was just perfect.
An Arc of As I Am was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.
A Stripper and a Doctor...
Chase Hansen, is in his final year of college when a devastating event turns his world upside down.He has no option other than to drop out of college and raise his 16 year old brother.He has to grow up fast and taking a job as stripper is far from ideal but the money's good and that's his main priority....providing for Benny.
Noah Carpenter ,doctor,thinks his life is going along nicely when he's betrayed by his boyfriend.He's left in pieces,struggling to get his life back on track and one night at work,exhausted by recent events something happens that he can't get out of his mind.
What I loved,
-Noah and Chase had great chemistry.They definitely fit together as a couple and the sex scenes are extremely hot and well written.
-I simply loved the relationship Chase had with his younger brother,Benny.He sacrificed so much to be there for him every step of the way.They might only have had each other but you get a great sense of family from them.
-When Chase and Noah got together,Noah was there for Benny as well and I loved him for that.Noah and Benny had an easy,believable relationship.
My only niggle here was that,at times,both men seemed quite immature at times and there was a lot of back and forth that could have been avoided.
Overall,an enjoyable story and the Epilogue was just perfect.
An Arc of As I Am was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.
My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession
October 21, 2018
believably Ahhhhh... twue wuv.
Although it didn't make me full-on cry, this story was packed with tons of emotion and feels, just the way I like them.
It was also dramatic enough, without ever crossing over into The Land of Fuckery, to satisfy most angst lovers that I know.
And for all you durty boys and girls, it was packed, packed, PACKED full of steamy bits. Just thought you'd want to know. ;- )
Some of the story line was pretty far-reaching as far as believably goes, but meh, I couldn't have cared less, honestly.
I loved Chase & Noah, and Benny, too, so viva la feelz!
4.25 stars.
Although it didn't make me full-on cry, this story was packed with tons of emotion and feels, just the way I like them.
It was also dramatic enough, without ever crossing over into The Land of Fuckery, to satisfy most angst lovers that I know.
And for all you durty boys and girls, it was packed, packed, PACKED full of steamy bits. Just thought you'd want to know. ;- )
Some of the story line was pretty far-reaching as far as believably goes, but meh, I couldn't have cared less, honestly.
I loved Chase & Noah, and Benny, too, so viva la feelz!
4.25 stars.
April 30, 2018
I'm having a bit of a crisis here, folks. I distinctly remember not hating Melissa Collins' writing. I read On Solid Ground when it came out, and while I didn't love it, I don't recall it being particularly terrible.
So just wtf happened between that book and this one? Did Melissa Collins suffer a traumatic brain injury? Did I change so drastically? Perhaps Collins just took up day drinking and this book is nothing more than the result of some inebriated bet hatched between her and her friends.
Whatever the case, I. Am. Confused.
I'm even more confused by the ridiculously high rating this book has received overall.
In terms of technicality, the writing is, I suppose, passable. Collins repeatedly screws up prepositions. "On its own free will", "he didn't take offense in it", etc. While I could maybe forgive this coming from a younger person who was perhaps educated in an underfunded school system (anywhere in the U.S., basically), coming from a woman who "studied literature" and, horror of horrors, became an English teacher, this is unacceptable. The fact that she and others like her were responsible for shaping the writing talents of scores of future generations is why it's so difficult to find a coherently written book these days. It's a case of the blind leading the blind. Collins doesn't even have a solid grasp of comma usage, and this is highly offensive from someone who is or was teaching children to write effectively.
If one were to overlook the technicalities and focus only on the story? Yowza. I'm gonna try and address every inconsistency in order. There are also going to be instances that bothered the ever loving fuck outta me. Hold on to something, this might get a little bumpy. Oh, and there are spoilers.
1. On the very first page, Chase asserts that he "doesn't drink". He then spends the rest of the book drinking. Gavin buys him shots at the club, he drinks beers with Noah, celebrates with Noah at the end with some champagne, etc.
2. Gavin, the "best friend" is a prop. He's there only for Collins to use as a filler when she wants Chase to have someone to interact with besides Noah or Benny, or when she wants to give Chase something to feel angry/guilty about. He's not a fleshed out character, and he's abused terribly, then disregarded.
3. That fucking strip club manager. She blackmails Gavin into having sex with her against his will to keep Chase from losing his job, but Chase doesn't seem to care, and nothing ever happens to her even after Chase and Noah find out. I hate to be the one to break this to Ms. Collins, but what she wrote and published is a case of sexual coercion. It does not fit the legal definition of rape, but sexual coercion is a crime, and can be prosecuted. Chase and Gavin's manager is a sexual predator with lord knows how many victims littering her path, and not a single character gives enough of a shit to do anything about it. The club's owner might be interested to know there are sex crimes taking place in their business, perpetrated by the manager they put their trust in...but we'll never know because the club's owner is never mentioned.
4. Benny, Chase's younger brother, starts off as the classic moody teenager. Like, you wanna step into the book and curb stomp the little bastard. But after a month of constant snark and derision, Chase sits him down, says, "hey, man, I've got it rough, too", and suddenly Benny is the epitome of mature calm. You can tell this book began its life as a short story based solely on that abrupt turnaround.
5. Whatever happened to the car window Chase punched out in the hospital parking lot? He never mentions having paid for the repairs. And how did he not break his hand?
6. Chase feels massive guilt over arguing with his mother the night she died, but this is mentioned two, maybe three times then summarily forgotten.
7. Chase is "in love" with Gavin...until it's convenient for him not to be. Bam, just over it. Why even bother going that route? He didn't have to have romantic feelings for Gavin in order for him to feel betrayed over Gavin's apparent defection, so this was completely unnecessary.
8. Chase laments not having time to get laid...after admittedly only having sex with one person in his entire 23 year existence. Again, this is unnecessary. A character does not need to be sexually pent up in order to begin a physical relationship with another character.
9. Chase goes from out-of-shape bad dancer to a cast member of Magic Mike in four weeks. During a sex scene, he explains away his flexibility simply by smirking and saying, "Dancer." Being a stripper for a few months does not make you a dancer.
10. There is thinly veiled disdain aimed at both strippers and their patrons. Collins even goes so far as to have Chase sarcastically remark on the similarities between strippers and prostitutes after Noah assumes Chase is a rent boy. I can't with this BS.
11. The dramatic mood swings are enough to make you think there's some kind of communicable mental illness floating around. Chase and Noah in particular get unreasonably angry at people with very little provocation. I lost count of the times a friend would ask one of them what was wrong, and they would get downright bitchy in their heads about it.
12. I'm unclear just how wealthy a newly minted resident doctor can be, but I'm fairly certain Noah wouldn't be quite so flush just yet. It's not even known in which field he practices. He just works in the "emergency department". Is he a surgeon? I have no clue. Between his economic status and his professional accolades, one gets the impression he's a man well into his 30s, not a mere 28.
13. When Rob showed up to Chelsea's wedding with Chase as his date, my eyes rolled so hard I saw my brain. WTF kind of sloppy, forced interaction is that? Collins couldn't come up with a more convincing, less creepy way to throw Chase back into Noah's orbit? Oh, let's have it so Rob meets Chase at a bar and asks him to accompany him to his brother's wedding where, SURPRISE, Noah, the guy Rob cheated on, will be. And Chase agrees because...he's hungry? Oi. After his regret at not having time to get laid, it's oh-so-fucking convenient that Chase just so happens to have the time to attend the wedding of a stranger with a guy he just met.
(Along the same line of thought, is it normal for the bachelorette party to be held a full month before the wedding?)
14. Chelsea's sister does Noah a favor in return for Noah "keeping his mouth shut.". She underscores this cryptic comment by running her hand over her flat belly. This is never mentioned again. Did she...have an abortion? The sister never even makes another appearance. Why would Noah know about an abortion? He doesn't work in an abortion clinic. He doesn't appear to be a women's physician. I AM CONFUSED.
15. Should we talk about the weirdness that is Noah giving a virtual stranger the code to his house, then said virtual stranger wearing his clothes, eating his food, and sleeping on his couch? Then breaking in later for a booty call? Was any of this necessary?
16. As other reviewers have pointed out, there's a scene where Benny calls Chase and needs to be picked up, and Chase calls an Uber. Why couldn't Benny just get his own Uber? These two are supposedly strapped for cash, so...oh, and here's another piece of that stupid puzzle to ponder over. Toward the end, Chase is going to surprise Noah by showing up to a medical awards ceremony, so Gavin has loaned Chase his car and says he'll be on Benny text duty. If Chase will have Gavin's car, how the hell is Gavin supposed to pick Benny up? Someone needs to teach Benny how to make his own way home. He's nearly 17, FFS.
17. Speaking of Benny being nearly 17, this timeline is screwy. Chase and Noah's parents die in January, from all appearances about two weeks after Christmas, and we pick up with them again a month later. So we're well into February at this point. In chapter 5, it's been "nearly four months" since the accident, so now we're well into May. That's when Gavin takes Chase to audition at Studs. A month later, Chase sees Noah in the crowd as part of Chelsea's bachelorette party. So June. The wedding occurs a month later, in July. When Chase finally tells Noah about his parents' deaths, it's been "nearly seven months" since the accident. So we're closing in on August, at least. When Noah tells Chase about the couple he "failed to save" (more on this douchebaggery later), it's been eight months. So September. Not a whole lot of time passes between then and the big climax (from what I can tell, a week), yet nine months later, Benny has been away at college for "months"...? Nine months after September would only make it June, and Benny would have just graduated from high school.
18. In case you can't tell, inconsistencies bug the hell outta me. So when Chase tossed a condom and lube at Noah, and Noah lubed up his bare penis, then there's no mention of donning said condom...then the condom needs to be taken care of after the sex...my eye twitched. Later on, when Chase and Benny were scouring their apartment for cleaning supplies, then a page or so later, Benny removed cleaning supplies from Chase's hands...my eye twitched. When Chase says, "here we were, sitting on a couch", and later down the page, Noah says, "It's okay" after they've returned to the couch when they never got up...my damn eye twitched. And when Wes asked Chase why he dropped out of school with only a semester to go, and the next words spoken were, "They died in a car accident back in January..." with no indication about just whom "they" are...you can bet money that my fucking eye twitched. How hard is it to go back a few paragraphs and check?!
19. When Noah meets Benny for the first time, his initial thought is, "Could Chase be old enough to have a teenage son?" Noah is a doctor. Last time I checked, becoming a doctor takes a certain level of intelligence.
20. A cropped shirt is a "midriff", not a "mid-drift". Named after the midriff, the area of the front of the body between the chest and the waist. Again, this is from the mind of the illustrious doctor.
21. How did Chase retain guardianship of Benny? Despite what Ms. Collins may wish to believe, guardianship of minors does not automatically revert to older siblings. Social services would've been all over this case, especially considering the older brother was a 23-year-old college dropout without a penny to his name. And the stripping? Yeah, you can kiss guardianship goodbye, Sunshine.
22. When Noah asked Chase what he wanted to do after graduating college, he was understandably alarmed when Chase replied with, "I don't know, something business-ey, I guess." This little bit of wisdom is never followed up on. Noah never mentioned it again. In fact, the revelation of Chase's immaturity only reminded Noah of his sister dying of leukemia when he was six. How are these two things related? Well, Chase's comment scared him, much like a "little kid playing, jumping out from behind the basement door." His sister...specifically. I'm not sure how this train of thought reaches that conclusion, but this entire damn book is like that, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
23. "And I'd be lying if I said asking someone to help me out didn't cause me a bit of stress. Anxiety was a bitch like that." I have no idea how those two things relate to one another, and there wasn't any mention of Noah suffering from anxiety up until that point, which was 61% in.
24. "Minutes of endless torture." 'Nuff said.
25. When a scout from Syracuse comes to one of Benny's soccer games and mistakes Noah for Benny's dad, Chase gets all butt hurt and weird and ices Noah out...and we never find out why. There's another little tiff over the splitting of the dinner bill, and when Noah and Chase finally have it out, only the money is mentioned. Furthermore, the scout is brought up later in a discussion between Benny and Chase regarding homophobia. The scout is called a douche on more than one occasion, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Yes, he acted a little dictatorial and intense, and he incorrectly assumed, but the level of disdain aimed at him is completely out of proportion with his behavior.
26. When Chase accompanies Noah to a birthday party for a friend's baby, Noah starts freaking out because Chelsea will be there and he knows she'll recognize Chase as a stripper. So he starts trying to hurriedly explain this to Chase, when Chelsea blitz attacks. Did Collins forget that Chase was Rob's date to Chelsea's wedding? Did Chelsea not see him there? That would be strange considering Rob is her fucking brother-in-law. Chelsea does in fact recognize Chase from the strip club, and her husband is all, "From the wedding, weren't you there with Rob?", then Noah drags Chelsea off, where she starts demanding an explanation, then is all, "You brought him to the wedding?! Why didn't you introduce me?!"
It was at that point that I began wondering if perhaps this whole thing weren't some fever dream. Some psychotic, half formed hallucination occurring inside the mind of a person suffering from Malaria and an LSD overdose.
But I digress.
27. Benny mentioned Chase telling him he's gay when he never did. In fact, I don't recall Chase even once using the words, "I'm gay". Not in the entire book. Let me check...Nope. Gavin guessed and Chase nodded, and Benny walked in on Noah and Chase canoodling in the kitchen and figured it out.
28. When Noah collapsed in the hospital in the beginning of the book, I was under the impression that it was due to exhaustion. Collins appeared to have mapped this out beforehand, talking about how tired he was, how long he'd been awake, etc. So when Wes talked to Chase and Benny about the incident and intimated that Noah "passed out" because of all the blood...I was understandably confused. Then later, when Noah has once again climbed up onto his cross, Wes tells him that it wasn't his fault, he'd been on rotation for thirty-six hours and hadn't eaten in twelve. Noah says he was too "chicken shit" to stay conscious and do his job. So was he exhausted or was it the gore?
29. Noah knows that lack of communication was a problem in his last relationship, yet when he knows Chase is upset about something, instead of trying to draw him out to talk about it, he takes him out to dinner to try and lift his spirits and bury whatever's bothering him in the back of his mind.
Healthy!
30. Noah, a doctor, and Chase, a man whose parents died in a car accident, have zero qualms about participating in road head.
31. Zero prep for the anal sex. Wtf? This has been pointed out by other reviewers, but it can't be repeated enough; prep is important. Even if there isn't stretching involved, lube is a requirement unless the person on the receiving end doesn't want it. The sex scene in the bathtub disturbed the hell out of me. I can only assume Melissa Collins has never participated in shower sex because water? Not an adequate substitution for lube! Not even for vaginal intercourse. God.
32. Noah's diva freakout over Chase knowing about Noah's "failure"? Omfg, someone call NBC and get Noah an audition on Days of our Lives.
I'm going to stop numbering things now and just say that the melodrama and cheese factors really ramped up in the final 25% of the book. Noah gets a "doctor of the year" award, but refuses it because it's somehow his fault Chase's parents died. So Chase convinces Noah's boss to let Chase present the award, and his speech about Noah is as badly written and nauseating as one could expect from a book like this.
But you know what? It wasn't even close to being over. Collins decided to go all out and really jump the shark with the finale. After Chase's college graduation, Noah leads him to the library to meet someone. A young couple comes walking out with a baby. I knew...I just knew the direction this was going, and I actually started swearing to myself, out loud.
The young mother, Stephanie, had a heart condition, and wasn't expected to make it through childbirth. But then she received a miracle in the form of a heart transplant...from...Chase's mom.
This is not a plot. This is a collection of tragedies and Hallmark card sentiments incoherently strung together by a woman who seems to care for neither proper grammar nor compelling storytelling.
All the plot devices that were employed and then dropped without resolution:
Theo, Gavin's homophobic frat brother.
Chelsea's sister's secret.
Chase's guilt over his fight with his mom.
Chase's career aspirations.
The strip club manager's behavior.
Benny's college recruitment.
Rob.
I took more care writing this review than Collins did writing the book its based on.
So just wtf happened between that book and this one? Did Melissa Collins suffer a traumatic brain injury? Did I change so drastically? Perhaps Collins just took up day drinking and this book is nothing more than the result of some inebriated bet hatched between her and her friends.
Whatever the case, I. Am. Confused.
I'm even more confused by the ridiculously high rating this book has received overall.
In terms of technicality, the writing is, I suppose, passable. Collins repeatedly screws up prepositions. "On its own free will", "he didn't take offense in it", etc. While I could maybe forgive this coming from a younger person who was perhaps educated in an underfunded school system (anywhere in the U.S., basically), coming from a woman who "studied literature" and, horror of horrors, became an English teacher, this is unacceptable. The fact that she and others like her were responsible for shaping the writing talents of scores of future generations is why it's so difficult to find a coherently written book these days. It's a case of the blind leading the blind. Collins doesn't even have a solid grasp of comma usage, and this is highly offensive from someone who is or was teaching children to write effectively.
If one were to overlook the technicalities and focus only on the story? Yowza. I'm gonna try and address every inconsistency in order. There are also going to be instances that bothered the ever loving fuck outta me. Hold on to something, this might get a little bumpy. Oh, and there are spoilers.
1. On the very first page, Chase asserts that he "doesn't drink". He then spends the rest of the book drinking. Gavin buys him shots at the club, he drinks beers with Noah, celebrates with Noah at the end with some champagne, etc.
2. Gavin, the "best friend" is a prop. He's there only for Collins to use as a filler when she wants Chase to have someone to interact with besides Noah or Benny, or when she wants to give Chase something to feel angry/guilty about. He's not a fleshed out character, and he's abused terribly, then disregarded.
3. That fucking strip club manager. She blackmails Gavin into having sex with her against his will to keep Chase from losing his job, but Chase doesn't seem to care, and nothing ever happens to her even after Chase and Noah find out. I hate to be the one to break this to Ms. Collins, but what she wrote and published is a case of sexual coercion. It does not fit the legal definition of rape, but sexual coercion is a crime, and can be prosecuted. Chase and Gavin's manager is a sexual predator with lord knows how many victims littering her path, and not a single character gives enough of a shit to do anything about it. The club's owner might be interested to know there are sex crimes taking place in their business, perpetrated by the manager they put their trust in...but we'll never know because the club's owner is never mentioned.
4. Benny, Chase's younger brother, starts off as the classic moody teenager. Like, you wanna step into the book and curb stomp the little bastard. But after a month of constant snark and derision, Chase sits him down, says, "hey, man, I've got it rough, too", and suddenly Benny is the epitome of mature calm. You can tell this book began its life as a short story based solely on that abrupt turnaround.
5. Whatever happened to the car window Chase punched out in the hospital parking lot? He never mentions having paid for the repairs. And how did he not break his hand?
6. Chase feels massive guilt over arguing with his mother the night she died, but this is mentioned two, maybe three times then summarily forgotten.
7. Chase is "in love" with Gavin...until it's convenient for him not to be. Bam, just over it. Why even bother going that route? He didn't have to have romantic feelings for Gavin in order for him to feel betrayed over Gavin's apparent defection, so this was completely unnecessary.
8. Chase laments not having time to get laid...after admittedly only having sex with one person in his entire 23 year existence. Again, this is unnecessary. A character does not need to be sexually pent up in order to begin a physical relationship with another character.
9. Chase goes from out-of-shape bad dancer to a cast member of Magic Mike in four weeks. During a sex scene, he explains away his flexibility simply by smirking and saying, "Dancer." Being a stripper for a few months does not make you a dancer.
10. There is thinly veiled disdain aimed at both strippers and their patrons. Collins even goes so far as to have Chase sarcastically remark on the similarities between strippers and prostitutes after Noah assumes Chase is a rent boy. I can't with this BS.
11. The dramatic mood swings are enough to make you think there's some kind of communicable mental illness floating around. Chase and Noah in particular get unreasonably angry at people with very little provocation. I lost count of the times a friend would ask one of them what was wrong, and they would get downright bitchy in their heads about it.
12. I'm unclear just how wealthy a newly minted resident doctor can be, but I'm fairly certain Noah wouldn't be quite so flush just yet. It's not even known in which field he practices. He just works in the "emergency department". Is he a surgeon? I have no clue. Between his economic status and his professional accolades, one gets the impression he's a man well into his 30s, not a mere 28.
13. When Rob showed up to Chelsea's wedding with Chase as his date, my eyes rolled so hard I saw my brain. WTF kind of sloppy, forced interaction is that? Collins couldn't come up with a more convincing, less creepy way to throw Chase back into Noah's orbit? Oh, let's have it so Rob meets Chase at a bar and asks him to accompany him to his brother's wedding where, SURPRISE, Noah, the guy Rob cheated on, will be. And Chase agrees because...he's hungry? Oi. After his regret at not having time to get laid, it's oh-so-fucking convenient that Chase just so happens to have the time to attend the wedding of a stranger with a guy he just met.
(Along the same line of thought, is it normal for the bachelorette party to be held a full month before the wedding?)
14. Chelsea's sister does Noah a favor in return for Noah "keeping his mouth shut.". She underscores this cryptic comment by running her hand over her flat belly. This is never mentioned again. Did she...have an abortion? The sister never even makes another appearance. Why would Noah know about an abortion? He doesn't work in an abortion clinic. He doesn't appear to be a women's physician. I AM CONFUSED.
15. Should we talk about the weirdness that is Noah giving a virtual stranger the code to his house, then said virtual stranger wearing his clothes, eating his food, and sleeping on his couch? Then breaking in later for a booty call? Was any of this necessary?
16. As other reviewers have pointed out, there's a scene where Benny calls Chase and needs to be picked up, and Chase calls an Uber. Why couldn't Benny just get his own Uber? These two are supposedly strapped for cash, so...oh, and here's another piece of that stupid puzzle to ponder over. Toward the end, Chase is going to surprise Noah by showing up to a medical awards ceremony, so Gavin has loaned Chase his car and says he'll be on Benny text duty. If Chase will have Gavin's car, how the hell is Gavin supposed to pick Benny up? Someone needs to teach Benny how to make his own way home. He's nearly 17, FFS.
17. Speaking of Benny being nearly 17, this timeline is screwy. Chase and Noah's parents die in January, from all appearances about two weeks after Christmas, and we pick up with them again a month later. So we're well into February at this point. In chapter 5, it's been "nearly four months" since the accident, so now we're well into May. That's when Gavin takes Chase to audition at Studs. A month later, Chase sees Noah in the crowd as part of Chelsea's bachelorette party. So June. The wedding occurs a month later, in July. When Chase finally tells Noah about his parents' deaths, it's been "nearly seven months" since the accident. So we're closing in on August, at least. When Noah tells Chase about the couple he "failed to save" (more on this douchebaggery later), it's been eight months. So September. Not a whole lot of time passes between then and the big climax (from what I can tell, a week), yet nine months later, Benny has been away at college for "months"...? Nine months after September would only make it June, and Benny would have just graduated from high school.
18. In case you can't tell, inconsistencies bug the hell outta me. So when Chase tossed a condom and lube at Noah, and Noah lubed up his bare penis, then there's no mention of donning said condom...then the condom needs to be taken care of after the sex...my eye twitched. Later on, when Chase and Benny were scouring their apartment for cleaning supplies, then a page or so later, Benny removed cleaning supplies from Chase's hands...my eye twitched. When Chase says, "here we were, sitting on a couch", and later down the page, Noah says, "It's okay" after they've returned to the couch when they never got up...my damn eye twitched. And when Wes asked Chase why he dropped out of school with only a semester to go, and the next words spoken were, "They died in a car accident back in January..." with no indication about just whom "they" are...you can bet money that my fucking eye twitched. How hard is it to go back a few paragraphs and check?!
19. When Noah meets Benny for the first time, his initial thought is, "Could Chase be old enough to have a teenage son?" Noah is a doctor. Last time I checked, becoming a doctor takes a certain level of intelligence.
20. A cropped shirt is a "midriff", not a "mid-drift". Named after the midriff, the area of the front of the body between the chest and the waist. Again, this is from the mind of the illustrious doctor.
21. How did Chase retain guardianship of Benny? Despite what Ms. Collins may wish to believe, guardianship of minors does not automatically revert to older siblings. Social services would've been all over this case, especially considering the older brother was a 23-year-old college dropout without a penny to his name. And the stripping? Yeah, you can kiss guardianship goodbye, Sunshine.
22. When Noah asked Chase what he wanted to do after graduating college, he was understandably alarmed when Chase replied with, "I don't know, something business-ey, I guess." This little bit of wisdom is never followed up on. Noah never mentioned it again. In fact, the revelation of Chase's immaturity only reminded Noah of his sister dying of leukemia when he was six. How are these two things related? Well, Chase's comment scared him, much like a "little kid playing, jumping out from behind the basement door." His sister...specifically. I'm not sure how this train of thought reaches that conclusion, but this entire damn book is like that, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
23. "And I'd be lying if I said asking someone to help me out didn't cause me a bit of stress. Anxiety was a bitch like that." I have no idea how those two things relate to one another, and there wasn't any mention of Noah suffering from anxiety up until that point, which was 61% in.
24. "Minutes of endless torture." 'Nuff said.
25. When a scout from Syracuse comes to one of Benny's soccer games and mistakes Noah for Benny's dad, Chase gets all butt hurt and weird and ices Noah out...and we never find out why. There's another little tiff over the splitting of the dinner bill, and when Noah and Chase finally have it out, only the money is mentioned. Furthermore, the scout is brought up later in a discussion between Benny and Chase regarding homophobia. The scout is called a douche on more than one occasion, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Yes, he acted a little dictatorial and intense, and he incorrectly assumed, but the level of disdain aimed at him is completely out of proportion with his behavior.
26. When Chase accompanies Noah to a birthday party for a friend's baby, Noah starts freaking out because Chelsea will be there and he knows she'll recognize Chase as a stripper. So he starts trying to hurriedly explain this to Chase, when Chelsea blitz attacks. Did Collins forget that Chase was Rob's date to Chelsea's wedding? Did Chelsea not see him there? That would be strange considering Rob is her fucking brother-in-law. Chelsea does in fact recognize Chase from the strip club, and her husband is all, "From the wedding, weren't you there with Rob?", then Noah drags Chelsea off, where she starts demanding an explanation, then is all, "You brought him to the wedding?! Why didn't you introduce me?!"
It was at that point that I began wondering if perhaps this whole thing weren't some fever dream. Some psychotic, half formed hallucination occurring inside the mind of a person suffering from Malaria and an LSD overdose.
But I digress.
27. Benny mentioned Chase telling him he's gay when he never did. In fact, I don't recall Chase even once using the words, "I'm gay". Not in the entire book. Let me check...Nope. Gavin guessed and Chase nodded, and Benny walked in on Noah and Chase canoodling in the kitchen and figured it out.
28. When Noah collapsed in the hospital in the beginning of the book, I was under the impression that it was due to exhaustion. Collins appeared to have mapped this out beforehand, talking about how tired he was, how long he'd been awake, etc. So when Wes talked to Chase and Benny about the incident and intimated that Noah "passed out" because of all the blood...I was understandably confused. Then later, when Noah has once again climbed up onto his cross, Wes tells him that it wasn't his fault, he'd been on rotation for thirty-six hours and hadn't eaten in twelve. Noah says he was too "chicken shit" to stay conscious and do his job. So was he exhausted or was it the gore?
29. Noah knows that lack of communication was a problem in his last relationship, yet when he knows Chase is upset about something, instead of trying to draw him out to talk about it, he takes him out to dinner to try and lift his spirits and bury whatever's bothering him in the back of his mind.
Healthy!
30. Noah, a doctor, and Chase, a man whose parents died in a car accident, have zero qualms about participating in road head.
31. Zero prep for the anal sex. Wtf? This has been pointed out by other reviewers, but it can't be repeated enough; prep is important. Even if there isn't stretching involved, lube is a requirement unless the person on the receiving end doesn't want it. The sex scene in the bathtub disturbed the hell out of me. I can only assume Melissa Collins has never participated in shower sex because water? Not an adequate substitution for lube! Not even for vaginal intercourse. God.
32. Noah's diva freakout over Chase knowing about Noah's "failure"? Omfg, someone call NBC and get Noah an audition on Days of our Lives.
I'm going to stop numbering things now and just say that the melodrama and cheese factors really ramped up in the final 25% of the book. Noah gets a "doctor of the year" award, but refuses it because it's somehow his fault Chase's parents died. So Chase convinces Noah's boss to let Chase present the award, and his speech about Noah is as badly written and nauseating as one could expect from a book like this.
But you know what? It wasn't even close to being over. Collins decided to go all out and really jump the shark with the finale. After Chase's college graduation, Noah leads him to the library to meet someone. A young couple comes walking out with a baby. I knew...I just knew the direction this was going, and I actually started swearing to myself, out loud.
The young mother, Stephanie, had a heart condition, and wasn't expected to make it through childbirth. But then she received a miracle in the form of a heart transplant...from...Chase's mom.
This is not a plot. This is a collection of tragedies and Hallmark card sentiments incoherently strung together by a woman who seems to care for neither proper grammar nor compelling storytelling.
All the plot devices that were employed and then dropped without resolution:
Theo, Gavin's homophobic frat brother.
Chelsea's sister's secret.
Chase's guilt over his fight with his mom.
Chase's career aspirations.
The strip club manager's behavior.
Benny's college recruitment.
Rob.
I took more care writing this review than Collins did writing the book its based on.
April 25, 2018
dnf @ the part where noah lets us know he named his puppy after his dead sister
good god. i wouldn't say this was my most disappointing read of all time or anything but it sure was a let down. i mean such a promising premise... a male stripper & a fcking doctor. i've genuinely never read that in MM fiction so I was looking forward to it, especially since it's marketed as very ~feelsy.~
but it wasn't. here are my main 2 issues with the book.
1. the plot. i'm not a plot queen, truly. but there were so many fucking inconsistencies and just dumb things... for instance. noah takes care of his younger brother. said little brother needs a ride home so noah ubers to pick him up. why can't the fucking brother get an uber??? and in general the author hints trying to make these characters have damaged pasts but they just come off as whiny.
2.the sex. yeah so the lap dance scene was where this book originated. it was part of an anthology and then expanded into this mess. the lap dance was hot.. the sex was SO unrealistic though. like i've read my fair share of MM romances and tbh just being a human person i know how anal sex works. you'd can't NOT prep for it. and if you don't prep once that doesn't mean that you will NEVER prep. like these poor dudes probably have the rawest asses around.
too exhausted to give even a modicum of a fuck more than this. don't recommend, 2 stars.
******************
im sorry but me & hayley have been waiting for this book our whole lives
#where she at tho
May 27, 2018
DNF
I was so excited for this book when I read the concept. A male stripper and a doctor? YAAASSS, QUEEN. Obviously, it was super disappointing since I DNFed it. The writing wasn't that bad, but it wasn’t great either. It was on par with a lot of other romance authors: simple yet not so horrible that I couldn’t get over it. What forced me to DNF this was how unrealistic the story was. I couldn’t get over it because the things that were happening were just SO ridiculous and made no sense. I feel like she had a fun concept but didn’t think it all the way through, just came up with ideas as she was writing so nothing really made sense or went together. A few examples:
1. When Chase auditions to be a stripper it’s very clear that he cannot dance and does not have a hot bod. In my head I was thinking that Chase would kind of have an innate skill for dancing, but nope. He clearly sucks and only gets the job because he threatens to tell on the manager who only hires strippers she wants to sleep with. Fast forward a month and I’m supposed to believe that Chase has a to-die-for bod and Channing Tatum dance moves. Er, no.
2. In one scene Chase’s little brother calls him because he needs a ride. Understandable. What I didn’t understand was Chase then gets in an Uber to go pick him up. He’s 16! Why doesn’t he take his own Uber?! It does not make logical sense for Chase to take an Uber to get his brother and go home, when his brother can just take his own Uber!!!! WHY?!
3. Chase shows up at Noah’s best friend’s wedding as Noah’s ex boyfriend’s date. First of all, I would just like to ask, who the hell brings a first date a wedding? Especially their brother’s wedding?! NO ONE. You’d think the first thing that would happen is Noah would want to find out how they know each other. The world is not that small!! But nope, instead the just go make out and grind their dicks against each other. Noah then gives Chase the key code to his house and the scene ends. Which brings to me to next point.
4. WHO THE HELLLLL GIVES A COMPLETE STRANGER THAT YOU HAVE MET/FUCKED ONE TIME THE KEY TO THEIR HOUSE AND THEN ALLOWS THEM TO GO THERE WITHOUT YOU!? If that isn’t unrealistic and creepy enough Chase proceeds to help himself to everything: Noah’s clothes, his washer and dryer, his food, his TV, while waiting for Noah. Neither of them thinks this is weird. HOW?!
5. Continuing off my last issue is my next one. Chase just casually lets himself into Noah’s house while he is at work for a booty call. Doesn’t even ask, text or anything. Just scares the ever-loving shit out of him and once again NO ONE CARES. I’M sorry, but is this a romance or You by Caroline Kepnes? Joe, is that you? Did you body snatch Chase?! This is not romantic. It’s just stalkerish and creepy AF. Very Edward Cullen of him.
6. Oh, and of course it’s insta-love all over the place. So, ew to that. NEXT!
7. On top of everything else that was unrealistic and rushed were the sex scenes. There was absolutely no prepping. I have read quite a few MM now plus, like most people, I know how butt sex works. There is ALWAYS some form of prepping – you can’t just ram it in there. In every other MM I’ve read there is prepping EVERY time. I was even told by a friend about a sex scene (in a different book) where the guys had sex on a battlefield, while one of them was wounded AND THEY STILL PREPPED! I feel like that’s pretty important to have enjoyable sexy times. I just don’t understand. Did she feel uncomfortable going into the details? If you don’t feel comfortable writing realistic, detailed M/M sex scenes than you shouldn't be writing M/M. Seriously, their poor butts because OW.
8. Oh, and finally Chase and Noah are extremely one dimensional. I think they might have had two conversations in the pages that I read. It felt like they were written just for the sex scenes and nothing else. Like I said, even those weren’t great.
So yeah, if you’re looking for a fun MM with well written characters and somewhat of a plot then look elsewhere. If you're looking for a fun M/M where once character is a fabulous as fuck stripper than read Fierce & Fabulous it's amaze.
I was so excited for this book when I read the concept. A male stripper and a doctor? YAAASSS, QUEEN. Obviously, it was super disappointing since I DNFed it. The writing wasn't that bad, but it wasn’t great either. It was on par with a lot of other romance authors: simple yet not so horrible that I couldn’t get over it. What forced me to DNF this was how unrealistic the story was. I couldn’t get over it because the things that were happening were just SO ridiculous and made no sense. I feel like she had a fun concept but didn’t think it all the way through, just came up with ideas as she was writing so nothing really made sense or went together. A few examples:
1. When Chase auditions to be a stripper it’s very clear that he cannot dance and does not have a hot bod. In my head I was thinking that Chase would kind of have an innate skill for dancing, but nope. He clearly sucks and only gets the job because he threatens to tell on the manager who only hires strippers she wants to sleep with. Fast forward a month and I’m supposed to believe that Chase has a to-die-for bod and Channing Tatum dance moves. Er, no.
2. In one scene Chase’s little brother calls him because he needs a ride. Understandable. What I didn’t understand was Chase then gets in an Uber to go pick him up. He’s 16! Why doesn’t he take his own Uber?! It does not make logical sense for Chase to take an Uber to get his brother and go home, when his brother can just take his own Uber!!!! WHY?!
3. Chase shows up at Noah’s best friend’s wedding as Noah’s ex boyfriend’s date. First of all, I would just like to ask, who the hell brings a first date a wedding? Especially their brother’s wedding?! NO ONE. You’d think the first thing that would happen is Noah would want to find out how they know each other. The world is not that small!! But nope, instead the just go make out and grind their dicks against each other. Noah then gives Chase the key code to his house and the scene ends. Which brings to me to next point.
4. WHO THE HELLLLL GIVES A COMPLETE STRANGER THAT YOU HAVE MET/FUCKED ONE TIME THE KEY TO THEIR HOUSE AND THEN ALLOWS THEM TO GO THERE WITHOUT YOU!? If that isn’t unrealistic and creepy enough Chase proceeds to help himself to everything: Noah’s clothes, his washer and dryer, his food, his TV, while waiting for Noah. Neither of them thinks this is weird. HOW?!
5. Continuing off my last issue is my next one. Chase just casually lets himself into Noah’s house while he is at work for a booty call. Doesn’t even ask, text or anything. Just scares the ever-loving shit out of him and once again NO ONE CARES. I’M sorry, but is this a romance or You by Caroline Kepnes? Joe, is that you? Did you body snatch Chase?! This is not romantic. It’s just stalkerish and creepy AF. Very Edward Cullen of him.
6. Oh, and of course it’s insta-love all over the place. So, ew to that. NEXT!
7. On top of everything else that was unrealistic and rushed were the sex scenes. There was absolutely no prepping. I have read quite a few MM now plus, like most people, I know how butt sex works. There is ALWAYS some form of prepping – you can’t just ram it in there. In every other MM I’ve read there is prepping EVERY time. I was even told by a friend about a sex scene (in a different book) where the guys had sex on a battlefield, while one of them was wounded AND THEY STILL PREPPED! I feel like that’s pretty important to have enjoyable sexy times. I just don’t understand. Did she feel uncomfortable going into the details? If you don’t feel comfortable writing realistic, detailed M/M sex scenes than you shouldn't be writing M/M. Seriously, their poor butts because OW.
8. Oh, and finally Chase and Noah are extremely one dimensional. I think they might have had two conversations in the pages that I read. It felt like they were written just for the sex scenes and nothing else. Like I said, even those weren’t great.
So yeah, if you’re looking for a fun MM with well written characters and somewhat of a plot then look elsewhere. If you're looking for a fun M/M where once character is a fabulous as fuck stripper than read Fierce & Fabulous it's amaze.
April 23, 2018
3.5 stars.
This book was a cute story but nowhere near my favorite Melissa Collins book. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and I wasn't the biggest fan of the arguments that Noah and Chase had. They made sense in some way but they could've totally been prevented had they just communicated better.
The chemistry was really good between Chase and Noah. I liked the story line and I loved Benny! I feel like this might just be a case of 'it's not you, it's me' and it definitely doesn't stop me from reading any future books by the author.
An arc was provided in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a cute story but nowhere near my favorite Melissa Collins book. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and I wasn't the biggest fan of the arguments that Noah and Chase had. They made sense in some way but they could've totally been prevented had they just communicated better.
The chemistry was really good between Chase and Noah. I liked the story line and I loved Benny! I feel like this might just be a case of 'it's not you, it's me' and it definitely doesn't stop me from reading any future books by the author.
An arc was provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2018
Now Available for purchase!
Meet Noah and Chase today! Read the free short story here.
Meet Noah and Chase today! Read the free short story here.
December 20, 2018
‘I’d done nothing to deserve this life and was doing everything in my power to make it as good as possible…'
We love Melissa Collins and once again she gave us a wonderful romance with the right amount of angst, high emotions and characters we immediately fall in love with and take into our hearts. As I am showed that the heart wants what it wants despite social status, age and profession. One soul connecting to another overcoming any obstacle thrown into the path of love and happiness.
‘In all my life, I’d never experienced anything like this with anyone…when the two of us crashed together, there was no pulling us apart.’
Chase has faced the ultimate tragedy, changing the course of his life and that of his younger brother. Our hearts broke for them but oh how we admired their pure brotherly love and their sacrifices for survival. If ever there was a case of a character deserving respect from the reader it’s Chase. Showing such maturity and selflessness in the face of grief and devastation. This wonderful man needed someone to lean on too what with everything and everyone he was carrying.
‘He was the perfect image of everything I’d ever want – a home, happy and complete, not at all broken. And yet he was the reminder of everything I wasn’t.’
Noah is at a stalemate in his personal life despite his burgeoning career as a doctor. He’s full of self-doubt -despite glowing accolades- coming to terms with being the victim of a deceitful relationship. Every cloud has a silver lining though and sometimes in order to find true happiness we have to let go of the past and learn how to weather the storm, learning to trust again and letting go of the guilt and negativity.
‘We were up against everything else out there and with that thought in my head, I knew there was no way we couldn’t tackle anything the world would hand us.’
We championed the undeniable attraction and building love between Chase and Noah hoping that the doubts in their head and the influence of others wouldn’t succeed in keeping two wonderful men apart who so obviously were meant to be. As I Am was a sweet, emotional and passionate story about making it to the other side of tragedy and heartbreak and we enjoyed every moment of it, once again falling in love with the words from Melissa Collins.
“This is what it’s supposed to be. I don’t know what it is and I don’t know why, but every bone in my body, every drop of blood flowing in my veins, it just feels right when you’re there by my side and I know I’d do anything in my power to make our lives the way they should be.”
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April 23, 2018
I think this is going to be one of those "it's not the book, it's me" situations as this had everything I should like on paper but it just somehow didn't come together for me.
As I had an ARC I'm ignoring the errors, including the mis-naming of one of the characters as I'm sure they'll be fixed by release.*
But the story flow itself just really felt a bit jumbled and both Chase and Noah seemed to irrationally fly off the handle at times without any clear reason.
Now, having said that, at the heart of this is a lovely love story and a story about family and friends and supporting the ones you love through the hard times and that was done well.
The relationship between the two is also a believable one, both Chase and Noah find strength in the other to help them deal with the trials life throws at them.
Sex between them is also emotionally connected as well as hot and they switch things around with ease in the bedroom, on the couch and in the bath ;)
I liked the setting and the secondary characters and I'm sure this will be a hit for the vast majority of people.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
* Note: The author and I have touched base and this was an unproofed version so the errors will be fixed.
As I had an ARC I'm ignoring the errors, including the mis-naming of one of the characters as I'm sure they'll be fixed by release.*
But the story flow itself just really felt a bit jumbled and both Chase and Noah seemed to irrationally fly off the handle at times without any clear reason.
Now, having said that, at the heart of this is a lovely love story and a story about family and friends and supporting the ones you love through the hard times and that was done well.
The relationship between the two is also a believable one, both Chase and Noah find strength in the other to help them deal with the trials life throws at them.
Sex between them is also emotionally connected as well as hot and they switch things around with ease in the bedroom, on the couch and in the bath ;)
I liked the setting and the secondary characters and I'm sure this will be a hit for the vast majority of people.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
* Note: The author and I have touched base and this was an unproofed version so the errors will be fixed.
July 10, 2018
I didn‘t feel a thing not their love not their lust just nothing. The storyline was promising but the rest felt forced...
May 14, 2018
1.5/5 or 2/5.
It started good and then it kept getting worse and worse. Noah was such a frustrating character and Chase wasn't much better. And that ending was so over the top and didn't make much sense.
It started good and then it kept getting worse and worse. Noah was such a frustrating character and Chase wasn't much better. And that ending was so over the top and didn't make much sense.
April 17, 2018
4 Stars
I’ve been waiting for a new Melissa Collins' story for quite some time, and let me tell you, Noah and Chase, were definitely worth the wait.
I absolutely loved them both, I wanted to strangle them at times, but I still loved them. My heart broke for both Chase and his brother Benny. I can’t imagine losing your parents at such a young age and being forced to grow up so fast, but these brothers stick together and although it’s not easy, they make it work.
I loved how caring Noah was of Chase’s situation. I liked that he knew how to pick his battles and focused on the ones he could win, and getting Chase to see things his way was sexy to watch! (You’ll have to read it to find out) 😉
These guys had amazing chemistry and I loved taking this journey with them and while the push and pull was nerve wracking, the ending was absolutely beautiful.
The story is well-written and filled with angst, heartache, but also friendship, tenderness, love and plenty of hot sexy times!
My dislikes of the story were that I felt they didn’t have enough solid time in their relationship. We didn’t really get to see them as a happy couple. I think that’s because they just weren’t happy with themselves. While likable, they were both very melodramatic and fought about silly things. Things that, in the grand scheme of things, really shouldn’t have mattered all that much. Still, it was enjoyable and definitely recommendable!
*reviewed for Bayou Book Junkie*
December 22, 2018
** 2.75 stars **
The book was ok. It was well-edited, I liked Ben and Chelsea, Wes and Mia, hmmm, even Gavin grew on me but as for Noah and Chase - not so much. Noah as a character was fine on his own. I liked his relationship with his best friend Chelsea, but when Chase came into his orbit they didn't mesh well together at all. I didn't feel any connection between them. Yes, there were plenty of steamy scenes but by 70% I was skimming even them.
Chase, oh my goodness, acted like a immature spoiled boy. Even his brother Ben sounded more grown up than he did. His temper tantrums were so annoying, and the make up s*e*x later just felt cheap between them. I was glad when the book ended. I guess it just was not for me. Sorry for the bad review.
The book was ok. It was well-edited, I liked Ben and Chelsea, Wes and Mia, hmmm, even Gavin grew on me but as for Noah and Chase - not so much. Noah as a character was fine on his own. I liked his relationship with his best friend Chelsea, but when Chase came into his orbit they didn't mesh well together at all. I didn't feel any connection between them. Yes, there were plenty of steamy scenes but by 70% I was skimming even them.
Chase, oh my goodness, acted like a immature spoiled boy. Even his brother Ben sounded more grown up than he did. His temper tantrums were so annoying, and the make up s*e*x later just felt cheap between them. I was glad when the book ended. I guess it just was not for me. Sorry for the bad review.
May 13, 2018
3.5 stars for this emotional roller coaster. Chase and his younger brother Benny lose their parents in an accident. Saddled with debt and responsibilities, Chase leaves college to get a job and care for his teenage brother. The only work he can manage is stripping, which is a serious challenge in itself ! Chase meets Noah at the club and a connection forms. By chance they meet a while later and a relationship builds. Yes there’s angst and fluffy sweet ! These two are clearly into each other but it was a little frustrating with the stop / start romance vibe. An enjoyable read, especially if you like this author.
April 21, 2018
3-3.5 stars for me, but rounded up - because OMG that epilogue?! RIGHT IN THE FEELS!!
Melissa Collins is still a relatively new-to-me author...I have only read her On Solid Ground series before now (which I LOVED). This story did not resonate quite as deeply as the stories in that series did, although I loved lots of parts about this story and the characters.
Chase is 23 years old, and is now having to take care of his 16 year old brother after the death of their parents. He's found a job as a male stripper to make ends meet (his "friend" Gavin got him the job - and I use the "" marks because I don't know, I could never understand his friendship with Gavin and everything that happened there), and dropped out of college - and really, dropped everything, to take care of Benny, his brother. Benny, is awesome and adorable and stole just about every scene that he was in, by the way. He was my favorite. Seriously.
Noah is a doctor, 28 years old, and is just getting out of a seriously crappy and lackluster relationship. He has ghosts of his own to deal with, as well. He first meets Chase at the strip club, and then again at his best friend's wedding, and things kinda go from there with the two of them beginning to fall into each others' lives.
While Chase and Noah had some insanely great chemistry when they were together, they were also kinda frustrating. They were...irrationally pissed off or jealous with each other, and there were 2 or 3 times where they came off like 16 year olds with their immaturity. I thought that Noah, especially, was an ass a couple of times towards Chase. Very uncalled for. There was a lot of push-pull with them, one of them thinking they wanted to explore what this was between them, and then later on thinking it was just sex. It was hard to connect to them, honestly.
But by the end, Chase and Noah get their shit together and that last chapter and the epilogue? Seriously, that redeemed a lot of my frustrations with them early on in the story.
Looking forward to more from this author, and thank you!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Melissa Collins is still a relatively new-to-me author...I have only read her On Solid Ground series before now (which I LOVED). This story did not resonate quite as deeply as the stories in that series did, although I loved lots of parts about this story and the characters.
Chase is 23 years old, and is now having to take care of his 16 year old brother after the death of their parents. He's found a job as a male stripper to make ends meet (his "friend" Gavin got him the job - and I use the "" marks because I don't know, I could never understand his friendship with Gavin and everything that happened there), and dropped out of college - and really, dropped everything, to take care of Benny, his brother. Benny, is awesome and adorable and stole just about every scene that he was in, by the way. He was my favorite. Seriously.
Noah is a doctor, 28 years old, and is just getting out of a seriously crappy and lackluster relationship. He has ghosts of his own to deal with, as well. He first meets Chase at the strip club, and then again at his best friend's wedding, and things kinda go from there with the two of them beginning to fall into each others' lives.
While Chase and Noah had some insanely great chemistry when they were together, they were also kinda frustrating. They were...irrationally pissed off or jealous with each other, and there were 2 or 3 times where they came off like 16 year olds with their immaturity. I thought that Noah, especially, was an ass a couple of times towards Chase. Very uncalled for. There was a lot of push-pull with them, one of them thinking they wanted to explore what this was between them, and then later on thinking it was just sex. It was hard to connect to them, honestly.
But by the end, Chase and Noah get their shit together and that last chapter and the epilogue? Seriously, that redeemed a lot of my frustrations with them early on in the story.
Looking forward to more from this author, and thank you!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2018
As I am was a nice,spicy and a little emotional read.
For me it's another Melissa Collins' success,I've really appreciated this extended version of her previous short story.
Noah and Chase are so different from each other,a doctor the first and a stripper the latter,but at the same time they are both insecure.Their sexual relationship is ardent, lustful and passionate, and it helps them to grow and to overcome their issues.
The supporting characters are also important because they help those two hardheaded men to see the truth in more than one occasion.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
April 13, 2018
SEXY, AND EMOTIONAL!
#AsIAm #Noah&Chase #Katie #Studs #IllBeOutside #BlackLimo
First, I want to start off by saying, the cover for this book drew me in from the start. It's truly a beautifully cover. Then after I stopped staring at the cover to look at the blurb, I was defiantly intrigued! From the first chapter I found myself not being able to put this book down. Needing to see what exactly was going to happen between these two men. Noah, and Chase's story is not to be missed! Between the story-line, the characters, and the events that happen; I couldn't not finish this book in one sitting! Chase goes through so much tragedy in such a short period of time, you can't help but feel for him. He is such a strong character. As for Noah, well the whole time I was just rooting for him to connect with Chase. He too goes through a lot, you can't help but root for his HEA! The chemistry between these two men from their first encounter is off the charts. Their story is a true example of kismet! I really enjoyed this one!
If you are a lover of M/M stories, I recommend picking this book up!
**ARC RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**
#AsIAm #Noah&Chase #Katie #Studs #IllBeOutside #BlackLimo
First, I want to start off by saying, the cover for this book drew me in from the start. It's truly a beautifully cover. Then after I stopped staring at the cover to look at the blurb, I was defiantly intrigued! From the first chapter I found myself not being able to put this book down. Needing to see what exactly was going to happen between these two men. Noah, and Chase's story is not to be missed! Between the story-line, the characters, and the events that happen; I couldn't not finish this book in one sitting! Chase goes through so much tragedy in such a short period of time, you can't help but feel for him. He is such a strong character. As for Noah, well the whole time I was just rooting for him to connect with Chase. He too goes through a lot, you can't help but root for his HEA! The chemistry between these two men from their first encounter is off the charts. Their story is a true example of kismet! I really enjoyed this one!
If you are a lover of M/M stories, I recommend picking this book up!
**ARC RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**
April 23, 2018
ARC received for an honest review
It has been a while since I have read an m/m story, and even longer since I have read a Melissa Collins, so As I Am was a great way to get back in the saddle.
As I Am had me hooked right from the start. Endearing characters, beautiful, heartbreaking but hopeful story, I couldn't put this book down once I started.
At times. both Noah and Chase did annoy me, with their arguments (that seemed to be for argument's sake at times) and their lack of communication) however with this story it was easy for me to overcome that. I think it was because I really did adore them both.
This pair definitely do deserve to find love after all they have been through, and as a reader, you just can't help but be a cheerleader for them to find it with each other.
There are some great secondary characters, like Chase's brother and (at times) Chase's best friend Gavin is great too. But only sometimes lol.
Sweet, sexy, drama free story that I really did enjoy reading.
It has been a while since I have read an m/m story, and even longer since I have read a Melissa Collins, so As I Am was a great way to get back in the saddle.
As I Am had me hooked right from the start. Endearing characters, beautiful, heartbreaking but hopeful story, I couldn't put this book down once I started.
At times. both Noah and Chase did annoy me, with their arguments (that seemed to be for argument's sake at times) and their lack of communication) however with this story it was easy for me to overcome that. I think it was because I really did adore them both.
This pair definitely do deserve to find love after all they have been through, and as a reader, you just can't help but be a cheerleader for them to find it with each other.
There are some great secondary characters, like Chase's brother and (at times) Chase's best friend Gavin is great too. But only sometimes lol.
Sweet, sexy, drama free story that I really did enjoy reading.
May 9, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
I really liked As I Am. I’ve read several books where one of the MCs is a stripper and I’ve grown fond of the trope. They’re often misunderstood, broken men who have been through a lot. They’re not necessarily hoping for a handsome prince to come and rescue them, but when that actually happens, they can become unsure of themselves and whether they’re worth of the love they’re getting. This is what happens here. Chase was stripping because the money was better than working flipping burgers or cleaning offices. His parents are dead, and the last time he spoke to them, it was a fight. His brother, Benny, is dealing with his own mess, and they clash. He just wants to do right. I felt for him…especially about his last communication with his parents. Chase was one of those characters who just needed a hug and a shoulder to cry on. I wanted to be that shoulder.
As much as I loved Chase, I really loved Noah. My parents were nurses, so I pretty much grew up in a hospital. I was taught to be respectful of the doctors, but I eventually discovered that, while they deserve respect, they’re just people. People who have lives outside the hospital. For Noah, that life was lonely and sad. I have heard all sorts of stories of patient losses, so I was able to identify with Noah. I also happen to know a bit about being cheated on, so…yeah, there’s that too. Once again, we have a man who just wants to do right by people.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
I really liked As I Am. I’ve read several books where one of the MCs is a stripper and I’ve grown fond of the trope. They’re often misunderstood, broken men who have been through a lot. They’re not necessarily hoping for a handsome prince to come and rescue them, but when that actually happens, they can become unsure of themselves and whether they’re worth of the love they’re getting. This is what happens here. Chase was stripping because the money was better than working flipping burgers or cleaning offices. His parents are dead, and the last time he spoke to them, it was a fight. His brother, Benny, is dealing with his own mess, and they clash. He just wants to do right. I felt for him…especially about his last communication with his parents. Chase was one of those characters who just needed a hug and a shoulder to cry on. I wanted to be that shoulder.
As much as I loved Chase, I really loved Noah. My parents were nurses, so I pretty much grew up in a hospital. I was taught to be respectful of the doctors, but I eventually discovered that, while they deserve respect, they’re just people. People who have lives outside the hospital. For Noah, that life was lonely and sad. I have heard all sorts of stories of patient losses, so I was able to identify with Noah. I also happen to know a bit about being cheated on, so…yeah, there’s that too. Once again, we have a man who just wants to do right by people.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
October 11, 2018
Beta read this and thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 28, 2018
*2.5 - 2.75 stars* rounded up
"It's me, not the book" case. Too sappy for my liking, especially the ending.
"It's me, not the book" case. Too sappy for my liking, especially the ending.
December 20, 2018
‘I’d done nothing to deserve this life and was doing everything in my power to make it as good as possible…'
We love Melissa Collins and once again she gave us a wonderful romance with the right amount of angst, high emotions and characters we immediately fall in love with and take into our hearts. As I am showed that the heart wants what it wants despite social status, age and profession. One soul connecting to another overcoming any obstacle thrown into the path of love and happiness.
‘In all my life, I’d never experienced anything like this with anyone…when the two of us crashed together, there was no pulling us apart.’
Chase has faced the ultimate tragedy, changing the course of his life and that of his younger brother. Our hearts broke for them but oh how we admired their pure brotherly love and their sacrifices for survival. If ever there was a case of a character deserving respect from the reader it’s Chase. Showing such maturity and selflessness in the face of grief and devastation. This wonderful man needed someone to lean on too what with everything and everyone he was carrying.
‘He was the perfect image of everything I’d ever want – a home, happy and complete, not at all broken. And yet he was the reminder of everything I wasn’t.’
Noah is at a stalemate in his personal life despite his burgeoning career as a doctor. He’s full of self-doubt -despite glowing accolades- coming to terms with being the victim of a deceitful relationship. Every cloud has a silver lining though and sometimes in order to find true happiness we have to let go of the past and learn how to weather the storm, learning to trust again and letting go of the guilt and negativity.
‘We were up against everything else out there and with that thought in my head, I knew there was no way we couldn’t tackle anything the world would hand us.’
We championed the undeniable attraction and building love between Chase and Noah hoping that the doubts in their head and the influence of others wouldn’t succeed in keeping two wonderful men apart who so obviously were meant to be. As I Am was a sweet, emotional and passionate story about making it to the other side of tragedy and heartbreak and we enjoyed every moment of it, once again falling in love with the words from Melissa Collins.
“This is what it’s supposed to be. I don’t know what it is and I don’t know why, but every bone in my body, every drop of blood flowing in my veins, it just feels right when you’re there by my side and I know I’d do anything in my power to make our lives the way they should be.”
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July 13, 2018
Well, here's another example for not trusting the Five Stars review. Even when I wrote a five stars review I never asked people to believe it too. Only trust your feeling before choosing a new book to read and never put the expectations too high if you don't wanna ended with huge disappointed.
The blurb gave me the strong impression that the story will gonna be something, add the gorgeous cover to it and I decided to devour this book right away.
I've seen another author promoting this book massively and that made me itch to read some review that almost all give the book good praise with 5 glistening stars.
But my eyes then stumbled to the 1 and 2 stars review that caught my curiosity. Hmm, interesting…
FYI, I’m not that typical reader who read reviews before starting a new book, I mostly choose a book first – by its cover and then the blurb. And if that two makes me curious enough, I usually read it and not even care about what others said in their review. And if I’m in the mood read the review, I will automatically search and interested in what the lowest rating reviewers said about the book, because they usually not biased and said the truth.
Well, according to the blurb, this book actually come with an interesting premise. A male striper and a doctor ? My brain automatically scream with full anticipation and I was so excited to read it. I must admit that I do like some part of this book. I can feel the chemistry between the two MC very well, the plot was quite good and the writing was fine. There are some scenes that almost brought tears to my eyes and I have sympathy for what had happened to both Chase and Noah and their struggles to move on from the tragedy that happened in their life. All that happened between the MCs and the ups and downs in their relationship has huge potential to grabbed my soft heart IF it not constantly ‘interrupted’ by immature behavior from both MC that sometimes made me rolling my eyes so many times. I need to convinced myself over and over again that both MC ages was mature enough for their age. But at some points, I finally can’t stand anymore because it’s far too annoying for me.
I feel kinda disappointed that this story has to ended far from what I’ve expected. Even the sweet things Noah did to Chase’s brother, Benny was not enough to lift up my mood...
So I think 3 stars is fair enough for me, because even it ended not as what I expected but still there’s some part that I love from this book.
April 25, 2018
Wow. Just wow. I am a huge fan of MM romance. Especially ones that are written so beautifully that they pull out just about every emotion—love, lust, fear, sadness, happiness, hope, forgiveness, acceptance, and more love. That’s just what we have with As I Am.
Truly, the title says it all. As I Am is an amazing story about finding that special someone who loves you—faults and all—exactly as you are.
I adored Chase and Noah from the start. They are not perfect—far from. They’re both driven to succeed—just in different ways. Noah is driven by work. Chase too, but it’s based more on survival than work. And they just work as a couple.
Their acceptance of their differences and similarities is a true relationship goal. There’s no drama in their relationship—of course there’s misunderstandings and that whole awkward “get to know you” phase—but their relationship is solid. It’s smart. It’s sexy AF. And beautiful.
I loved how they loved each other. That they were adults in a relationship. That they trusted each other with their hopes and fears and deep secrets. I couldn’t get enough of them together. I adored their interactions with each other—in and out of the bedroom—and their interactions with their family and friends. I hated to come to the last page, but damn that last page was a perfect ending. ~ Missy, 5 stars
Truly, the title says it all. As I Am is an amazing story about finding that special someone who loves you—faults and all—exactly as you are.
I adored Chase and Noah from the start. They are not perfect—far from. They’re both driven to succeed—just in different ways. Noah is driven by work. Chase too, but it’s based more on survival than work. And they just work as a couple.
Their acceptance of their differences and similarities is a true relationship goal. There’s no drama in their relationship—of course there’s misunderstandings and that whole awkward “get to know you” phase—but their relationship is solid. It’s smart. It’s sexy AF. And beautiful.
I loved how they loved each other. That they were adults in a relationship. That they trusted each other with their hopes and fears and deep secrets. I couldn’t get enough of them together. I adored their interactions with each other—in and out of the bedroom—and their interactions with their family and friends. I hated to come to the last page, but damn that last page was a perfect ending. ~ Missy, 5 stars
April 25, 2018
As I am was an emotional book for me. It had some moments that gave me a lot of feels. My ride with this book wasn't exactly smooth. The beginning threw me a little bit of because the story begins before the characters get where the blurb says they are. Also, there were a lot of time jumps and I kind of got lost and stopped trying to make a timeline for Chase and Noah's relationship. Still, the good outweigh the bad and to me, this is a great book. You should read it. The author won me over as I was reading the book and I was swept into the story. I grew to love both men and I cannot choose one as my favorite. They are different people with different personalities and both of them got my heart. Benny was a great kid (or should I say man?) and I would love to read his story someday. I was glad we didn't get another teenager who wasn't lasing out and was actually trying to help. The rest of the secondary characters who weren't destined to hurt my guys were also good and I enjoyed the scenes I got to see them in. I don't see a reason why you shouldn't read the book. I will give it a nomination for my top books of 2018 because I loved the parts after Noah got some news in the end. We got some very deep and human moments. You should read this book, to find out what I mean.
April 18, 2018
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Oh man, both of these guys and everything they have been through, they totally deserved to find love and that it’s together is even better! Chase had to make some hard decisions after his parents died and hasn’t really had any support or help. Noah has given himself over to being a doctor and after his last relationship ended he doesn’t really see the point in trying again.
Chase is at the point where he is just trying to survive and in his own mind he knows that no one would want him if they really knew everything he had going on. Noah has a great group of friends around him but is quick to think the worst after catching his ex cheating.
I couldn’t help but feel for these guys. I was easy to relate to Chase because I know what it’s like to feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders even if I couldn’t in other ways and I loved watching Noah just take care of and support him when he needed it, it was just what his fragile heart needs. I still couldn’t really like his friend Gavin though, even if at times he thought he was helping he didn’t do much and thought about himself first. Noah is very cynical in his assumptions but I loved that he was willing to apologize and accept when he was wrong and the unconditional support from Chase was just what he needed. I loved these guys so much and the only reason it’s not 5 stars is that there were just too many points that I felt the characters didn’t fully resolve what they were talking about or doing.
The cover art by Sommer Stein is great and I love the picture of these characters together.
Oh man, both of these guys and everything they have been through, they totally deserved to find love and that it’s together is even better! Chase had to make some hard decisions after his parents died and hasn’t really had any support or help. Noah has given himself over to being a doctor and after his last relationship ended he doesn’t really see the point in trying again.
Chase is at the point where he is just trying to survive and in his own mind he knows that no one would want him if they really knew everything he had going on. Noah has a great group of friends around him but is quick to think the worst after catching his ex cheating.
I couldn’t help but feel for these guys. I was easy to relate to Chase because I know what it’s like to feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders even if I couldn’t in other ways and I loved watching Noah just take care of and support him when he needed it, it was just what his fragile heart needs. I still couldn’t really like his friend Gavin though, even if at times he thought he was helping he didn’t do much and thought about himself first. Noah is very cynical in his assumptions but I loved that he was willing to apologize and accept when he was wrong and the unconditional support from Chase was just what he needed. I loved these guys so much and the only reason it’s not 5 stars is that there were just too many points that I felt the characters didn’t fully resolve what they were talking about or doing.
The cover art by Sommer Stein is great and I love the picture of these characters together.
April 24, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is well written, flowing and smooth, and had me engrossed right from the start.
Chase is a super guy, stepping in to do anything for his younger brother, Benny, after their parents died. He has to grow up very fast, let go of his dreams, and make a living by dancing in a strip club. Noah is older, a hard-working intern, and dealing with his ex-boyfriend’s cheating. Noah is caring and understanding of Chase. He doesn’t care Chase is a stripper. It is the reason they met. I loved their teasing and joking, and I loved how he took Benny under his wing as well without being patronizing.
Their chemistry is undeniable, and that is all there is in the beginning. They can’t get enough of each other, although their heads say it can’t be right. Slowly, they are starting to see that what is building between them might be the right thing after all. Both guys have a lot of baggage. Because of their pasts, it is no wonder self-doubt and lack of trust are at the base of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Although I think Chase is a standup man, I had trouble with his mood swings. First, him running hot and cold in their growing relationship and then, or throughout the book really, he gets so angry over silly things. In the beginning, Noah is doing the same, but he grows out of it sooner. Once their relationship changed from purely physical to deeper and more emotional, I would have liked for them to talk with each other sooner instead of letting their issues fester. Having said that, I admire Chase for his way how he handled the important things like raising Benny, taking a stand at his job, and most of all the details of his parents’ death.
The secondary cast is great. I found Benny an inspiration. Very mature for his age. I loved how they stuck together through it all.
The surprise in the epilogue I hadn’t seen coming at all and had me in tears.
Chase is a super guy, stepping in to do anything for his younger brother, Benny, after their parents died. He has to grow up very fast, let go of his dreams, and make a living by dancing in a strip club. Noah is older, a hard-working intern, and dealing with his ex-boyfriend’s cheating. Noah is caring and understanding of Chase. He doesn’t care Chase is a stripper. It is the reason they met. I loved their teasing and joking, and I loved how he took Benny under his wing as well without being patronizing.
Their chemistry is undeniable, and that is all there is in the beginning. They can’t get enough of each other, although their heads say it can’t be right. Slowly, they are starting to see that what is building between them might be the right thing after all. Both guys have a lot of baggage. Because of their pasts, it is no wonder self-doubt and lack of trust are at the base of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Although I think Chase is a standup man, I had trouble with his mood swings. First, him running hot and cold in their growing relationship and then, or throughout the book really, he gets so angry over silly things. In the beginning, Noah is doing the same, but he grows out of it sooner. Once their relationship changed from purely physical to deeper and more emotional, I would have liked for them to talk with each other sooner instead of letting their issues fester. Having said that, I admire Chase for his way how he handled the important things like raising Benny, taking a stand at his job, and most of all the details of his parents’ death.
The secondary cast is great. I found Benny an inspiration. Very mature for his age. I loved how they stuck together through it all.
The surprise in the epilogue I hadn’t seen coming at all and had me in tears.
April 13, 2018
I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I’ve tried reading other M/M books in the past but they’ve all ended up being DNFs because they just didn’t have enough of a story to hold my attention.
Not the case here.
All I Am starts with us meeting Chase. He’s 23, in his last semester at college...and he’s in love with his best friend of nearly 20 years, Gavin. However, Gavin doesn’t know this because he is very much the typical frat boy - and Chase hasn’t come out to anyone.
On his way home from another of Gavin’s frat party’s, Chase gets a call from his brother Benny that will change their lives forever. Their parents have been in a car crash and are at the hospital and Chase needs to get there now!
In comes Noah. Noah is a 28 year old med student on his final, gruelling 36 hour shift and is working in the ER where the boys parents are being treated. Having had no sleep and hardly anything to eat, Noah starts to feel dizzy when receiving his instructions and as he walks through to the trauma room, he collapses and doesn’t get the chance to try and save his patients.
With the loss that Chase and Ben are dealing with, along comes more bad luck. Their dad was behind on mortgage payments and the bank are repossessing their home. Chase has had to delay his last semester and take on the role of brother/parent/breadwinner and find them somewhere to live that is barely affordable and get himself a job - and fast!!
It’s at his new job that Chase meets Noah! The sparks fly and the chemistry between them is hot! They have a one night stand but never arrange to see each other again, but they can’t stop thinking about each other. A chance meeting at Noah’s best friends wedding is enough to make them realise they want each other and to see where this goes.
Both of them are insecure for different reasons. Chase thinks he’s not good enough for Noah, and Noah is uptight due to his last relationship and the way he was treated, making both of them lash out unnecessarily rather than talking things out.
Will their stubbornness get in the way of them being together? Will they realise that they are what the other man needs to be happy?
You’ll have to read it to find out!!
It’s been a while since I’ve read Melissa (I absolutely loved The Love Series) and need to catch up with her other books now!!
Not the case here.
All I Am starts with us meeting Chase. He’s 23, in his last semester at college...and he’s in love with his best friend of nearly 20 years, Gavin. However, Gavin doesn’t know this because he is very much the typical frat boy - and Chase hasn’t come out to anyone.
On his way home from another of Gavin’s frat party’s, Chase gets a call from his brother Benny that will change their lives forever. Their parents have been in a car crash and are at the hospital and Chase needs to get there now!
In comes Noah. Noah is a 28 year old med student on his final, gruelling 36 hour shift and is working in the ER where the boys parents are being treated. Having had no sleep and hardly anything to eat, Noah starts to feel dizzy when receiving his instructions and as he walks through to the trauma room, he collapses and doesn’t get the chance to try and save his patients.
With the loss that Chase and Ben are dealing with, along comes more bad luck. Their dad was behind on mortgage payments and the bank are repossessing their home. Chase has had to delay his last semester and take on the role of brother/parent/breadwinner and find them somewhere to live that is barely affordable and get himself a job - and fast!!
It’s at his new job that Chase meets Noah! The sparks fly and the chemistry between them is hot! They have a one night stand but never arrange to see each other again, but they can’t stop thinking about each other. A chance meeting at Noah’s best friends wedding is enough to make them realise they want each other and to see where this goes.
Both of them are insecure for different reasons. Chase thinks he’s not good enough for Noah, and Noah is uptight due to his last relationship and the way he was treated, making both of them lash out unnecessarily rather than talking things out.
Will their stubbornness get in the way of them being together? Will they realise that they are what the other man needs to be happy?
You’ll have to read it to find out!!
It’s been a while since I’ve read Melissa (I absolutely loved The Love Series) and need to catch up with her other books now!!
April 18, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is the story of an unlikely romance between a male stripper and a young doctor. It starts with the death of Chase’s parents and Noah’s first big mistake as a doctor. There is instant attraction between Chase and Noah when a bachelorette party first brings them together but Chase’s grief and new responsibilities leave little room for a relationship.
Chase’s grief feels terribly real in this story. His changed circumstances feel almost impossibly unfair. I loved his grit, his resilience and the way he cares for his brother. He isn’t ready for a relationship when he meets Noah but he needs the connection he finds with Noah.
Noah’s world is very different but the emotional and physical strain of his job also feels very real. As a new doctor, he struggles to meet the superhuman expectations he has for himself. The relationship between Noah and Chase develops slowly. Noah’s stress and Chase’s grief don’t always allow them to communicate effectively and some of their arguments feel contrived and a little bit childish. Despite Noah’s age, this book often feels like a new adult romance.
This story isn’t always plausible - there is one scene at the end that I still can’t quite wrap my head around - but it is an engaging and emotional read. I liked and felt for both Noah and Chase.
This is the story of an unlikely romance between a male stripper and a young doctor. It starts with the death of Chase’s parents and Noah’s first big mistake as a doctor. There is instant attraction between Chase and Noah when a bachelorette party first brings them together but Chase’s grief and new responsibilities leave little room for a relationship.
Chase’s grief feels terribly real in this story. His changed circumstances feel almost impossibly unfair. I loved his grit, his resilience and the way he cares for his brother. He isn’t ready for a relationship when he meets Noah but he needs the connection he finds with Noah.
Noah’s world is very different but the emotional and physical strain of his job also feels very real. As a new doctor, he struggles to meet the superhuman expectations he has for himself. The relationship between Noah and Chase develops slowly. Noah’s stress and Chase’s grief don’t always allow them to communicate effectively and some of their arguments feel contrived and a little bit childish. Despite Noah’s age, this book often feels like a new adult romance.
This story isn’t always plausible - there is one scene at the end that I still can’t quite wrap my head around - but it is an engaging and emotional read. I liked and felt for both Noah and Chase.
April 20, 2018
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
This was a sweet love story involving Chase and Noah, both having some issues they need to overcome before they can fully trust and love each other. Chase has struggled most of his life but is doing his damndest for his brother Benny since their parents died. Noah was trying to make his crapoy relationship with Rob work until he walked into his worst nightmare. A hot chance meeting at a strip club changed Noah and Chases lives. While the sex was first and sooo hot it took awhile for these two to trust each other. I liked the build up of the story and I like how Benny was part of the entire story and didn't get pushed to the way side. I'll admit I cried a few times. It was a good story!
This was a sweet love story involving Chase and Noah, both having some issues they need to overcome before they can fully trust and love each other. Chase has struggled most of his life but is doing his damndest for his brother Benny since their parents died. Noah was trying to make his crapoy relationship with Rob work until he walked into his worst nightmare. A hot chance meeting at a strip club changed Noah and Chases lives. While the sex was first and sooo hot it took awhile for these two to trust each other. I liked the build up of the story and I like how Benny was part of the entire story and didn't get pushed to the way side. I'll admit I cried a few times. It was a good story!
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