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Regret Me Not
Pierce Atwater used to think he was a knight in shining armor, but then his life fell to crap. Now he has no job, no wife, no life—and is so full of self-pity he can’t even be decent to the one family member he’s still speaking to. He heads for Florida, where he’s got a month to pull his head out of his ass before he ruins his little sister’s Christmas.
Harold Justice Lombard the Fifth is at his own crossroads—he can keep being Hal, massage therapist in training, flamboyant and irrepressible to the bones, or he can let his parents rule his life. Hal takes one look at Pierce and decides they’re fellow unicorns out to make the world a better place. Pierce can’t reject Hal’s overtures of friendship, in spite of his misgivings about being too old and too pissed off to make a good friend.
As they experience everything from existential Looney Tunes to eternal trips to Target, Pierce becomes more dependent on Hal’s optimism to get him through the day. When Hal starts getting him through the nights too, Pierce must look inside for the knight he used to be—before Christmas becomes a doomsday deadline of heartbreak instead of a celebration of love.
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Harold Justice Lombard the Fifth is at his own crossroads—he can keep being Hal, massage therapist in training, flamboyant and irrepressible to the bones, or he can let his parents rule his life. Hal takes one look at Pierce and decides they’re fellow unicorns out to make the world a better place. Pierce can’t reject Hal’s overtures of friendship, in spite of his misgivings about being too old and too pissed off to make a good friend.
As they experience everything from existential Looney Tunes to eternal trips to Target, Pierce becomes more dependent on Hal’s optimism to get him through the day. When Hal starts getting him through the nights too, Pierce must look inside for the knight he used to be—before Christmas becomes a doomsday deadline of heartbreak instead of a celebration of love.
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2017
30 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Amy Lane
203 books3,487 followersAmy Lane dodges an EDJ, mothers four children, and writes the occasional book. She, her brood, and her beloved mate, Mack, live in a crumbling mortgage in Citrus Heights, California, which is riddled with spiders, cats, and more than its share of fancy and weirdness. Feel free to visit her at www.greenshill.com orwww.writerslane.blogspot.com, where she will ride the buzz of receiving your e-mail until her head swells and she can no longer leave the house.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
November 13, 2017
~3.5~
Christmas is just around the corner, and Pierce is having a bad year. A terrible auto accident essentially shattered the left side of his body; he's getting a divorce; and he lost his job. He's angry and bitter (not to say I blame him). He even snaps at his sister, an angel who's been taking care of his grumpy ass (and two young kids besides).
So Pierce escapes to Florida, to his best friend's beach condo. The plan is to do water exercises, eat canned soup, and wallow in misery. The plan is not to meet and fall for Hal, a 23-year-old fitness instructor/massage therapist/healing guru.
The story is told solely from Pierce's POV, so Hal remains a sparkling diamond: a bit unfocused, yeah (he's been working on his degree for five years but is yet to graduate), but also kind, comforting, and so damn sweet, Pierce just wants to lick him like a lollipop.
Hal calls Pierce a unicorn, but Hal is the unicorn, a sort of untouchable presence that's RIGHT THERE if only Pierce would leap.
This is a slow story: slow burn, slow plot, just slow; not boring exactly, but the focus is entirely on the daily lives of Hal and Pierce as Hal puts Pierce through the paces of a workout regime and sneaks in sly touches. There's also shopping.
Almost nothing happens until Pierce talks to his ex-wife (whom he's divorcing because she's a judgy bitch, which just makes him seem like a judgy bitch) and loathsome parents who are trying to crash Christmas. Both of these conversations felt forced; the first showed that Pierce can be a nice human, the second that he can be an asshole if he needs to be.
I wasn't sold on the idea of Hal and Pierce's relationship. I honestly just didn't FEEL the passion, despite the fair amount of steam.
I wanted to get into this story because I love Amy Lane's Christmas books, but I found myself distracted by the dialogue (the whole "you're a unicorn" thing got old fast) and wanting the story to just get on with it already.
I did like the hurt/comfort aspect. Hal is an amazing caretaker and really pushes Pierce to stretch and move and not give up.
The book ends on a HFN, but there's an author's note stating that Pierce and Hal's adventures will continue on Amy's blog.
Christmas is just around the corner, and Pierce is having a bad year. A terrible auto accident essentially shattered the left side of his body; he's getting a divorce; and he lost his job. He's angry and bitter (not to say I blame him). He even snaps at his sister, an angel who's been taking care of his grumpy ass (and two young kids besides).
So Pierce escapes to Florida, to his best friend's beach condo. The plan is to do water exercises, eat canned soup, and wallow in misery. The plan is not to meet and fall for Hal, a 23-year-old fitness instructor/massage therapist/healing guru.
The story is told solely from Pierce's POV, so Hal remains a sparkling diamond: a bit unfocused, yeah (he's been working on his degree for five years but is yet to graduate), but also kind, comforting, and so damn sweet, Pierce just wants to lick him like a lollipop.
Hal calls Pierce a unicorn, but Hal is the unicorn, a sort of untouchable presence that's RIGHT THERE if only Pierce would leap.
This is a slow story: slow burn, slow plot, just slow; not boring exactly, but the focus is entirely on the daily lives of Hal and Pierce as Hal puts Pierce through the paces of a workout regime and sneaks in sly touches. There's also shopping.
Almost nothing happens until Pierce talks to his ex-wife (whom he's divorcing because she's a judgy bitch, which just makes him seem like a judgy bitch) and loathsome parents who are trying to crash Christmas. Both of these conversations felt forced; the first showed that Pierce can be a nice human, the second that he can be an asshole if he needs to be.
I wasn't sold on the idea of Hal and Pierce's relationship. I honestly just didn't FEEL the passion, despite the fair amount of steam.
I wanted to get into this story because I love Amy Lane's Christmas books, but I found myself distracted by the dialogue (the whole "you're a unicorn" thing got old fast) and wanting the story to just get on with it already.
I did like the hurt/comfort aspect. Hal is an amazing caretaker and really pushes Pierce to stretch and move and not give up.
The book ends on a HFN, but there's an author's note stating that Pierce and Hal's adventures will continue on Amy's blog.
December 11, 2017
Amy Lane is firmly on my "Top 3 Favorite Authors of All Time" list, but I don't know, for me, this story just sort of drifted along, leaving my feelings half-muted in comparison to the majority of other Amy Lane works that I've read. : (
At 32, Pierce had been in an auto accident and moved in with his sister's family while he healed, then after having snapped at her during a moment of pain, decided to take his best friend up on his offer of his beach condo as he continued to recover.
During Pierce's first pool workout, he met Harold Justice Lombard the Fifth, aka Hal, who was working toward getting his certificate in massage therapy. Hal was upbeat, take charge and determined to help Pierce regain his mobility.
And who was Pierce to argue? He needed the help, and the fact that Hal was attractive and wouldn't take no for an answer didn't hurt in finalizing that decision. Except that Hal was only 23.
This was where the story got a bit strained for me. Pierce is 32. Not 72. But the way that Pierce was written, you'd think that he was old and gray. Speaking from experience, I met my husband when I was 32 and he was 24 and it wasn't even remotely "a thing." Not even a little bit.
Other than a bit too much concentration on the age difference, the story was perfectly "fine," it just didn't thrill me.
We did get to know Pierce a bit more than Hal, but I never felt as if I got to know either MC on the level that I needed to in order for me to completely connect with them. I think that would have taken several more than the books 119 pages.
In regards to tension, this one was extremely low on The Amy Lane Angst Scale, capitalized, because it truly *IS* "a thing.". Other than their fears, the only *true* obstacles for Pierce and Hal seemed to be those of their own making, so the hurdle they had to overcome was themselves.
As for sex, that was also okay, but not overly steamy or passionate. It was just sort of there a time or two, usually in the dark.
The book wasn't exactly what I'd call too sweet, but with the unicorns, Looney Tunes, Legos and giant teddy bears, it just felt as if it were trying a bit too hard. The fluff felt more injected than organic to the story.
Again, the book was "fine," but I've been waiting for another Amy Lane story with "Deacon and Crick"-level feels, but sadly this wasn't it for me.
So I'd have to rate this one at around 3 "fairly average" stars.
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
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January 2, 2018
This is officially my last read for the year and what an awesome read it was. I loved this story and I adored Hal and Pierce. I am so going over to Amy's blog and following the hell out of their adventures.
Ok, I'm off to spend the last day of the year with my hubby and partner in crime, but I'll be back next year (which is way sooner than it sounds) and I'll do my best to explain why I loved this story so much.
HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW BOOK FANATICS!!!
HAVE A GOOD ONE AND STAY SAFE.
Jan. 2/18 my actual review...
There were certainly no regrets here from reading 'Regret Me Not'...
'Regret Me Not' started out good for me. I have to admit I totally got where Pierce was coming from...done it, seen it, been there and I remember, oh boy do I remember I was that grumpy old person, lashing out at the people who loved me and wanted to help me and then regretting the words as soon as they were out of my mouth. Wanting to take back everything I'd said but not being able to. Frustrated because the things that I'd taken for granted being able to do I couldn't, knowing that some of it was temporary and some was stuff that I'd be able to do again someday when I was fully recovered but at the end of the day that didn't help a lot when dealing with my frustration...so yeah, I really got where Pierce was coming from.
Pierce takes refuge at his friend Derrick's Florida condo and on his first venture out to the pool to do some aqua therapy he finds himself being coached by an attractive young man who really seems to know his stuff when it comes to therapy. Hal's hiding out at his parent's condo...he's lonely, frustrated and just generally trying to get control of his life. He's been in school for 5 years trying to get his degree which would be a whole lot easier to accomplish if he wasn't squeezing the courses he wanted in between the ones his parents think he needs. Hal wants to be a pysio therapist...his parents want him to be a lawyer and probably not gay would be good in their eyes too.
Pierce and Hal fit together like puzzle pieces. Pierce needs help not just getting his body back in shape but getting his heart and soul in order too. Hal needs to help. He's a nurturer, helping people is in his soul, it's an integral part of who he is.
Hal thinks Pierce is a unicorn but Pierce...well, Pierce knows that the unicorn is Hal. He's bright and shiny, special and unique and Pierce is sure that he's too old and just not the good person that Hal sees in him.
I loved how well Hal and Pierce fit together, how good they were for each other and to each other. This was a sweet story about two people getting the best gifts of all for Christmas...the gifts of friendship, love and family.
Best of all a the end of the story when I thought I was going to have to have to say good-bye to this adorable pair, Ms. Lane gives the reader one last gift the promise of more...Pierce and Hal will be continuing their adventures and they'll be shared on the author's blog. I know I look forward to continuing to find out more about Hal and Pierce as they continue to go through life together sharing whatever comes their way.
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An ARC of 'Regret Me Not' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Ok, I'm off to spend the last day of the year with my hubby and partner in crime, but I'll be back next year (which is way sooner than it sounds) and I'll do my best to explain why I loved this story so much.
HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FELLOW BOOK FANATICS!!!
HAVE A GOOD ONE AND STAY SAFE.
Jan. 2/18 my actual review...
There were certainly no regrets here from reading 'Regret Me Not'...
'Regret Me Not' started out good for me. I have to admit I totally got where Pierce was coming from...done it, seen it, been there and I remember, oh boy do I remember I was that grumpy old person, lashing out at the people who loved me and wanted to help me and then regretting the words as soon as they were out of my mouth. Wanting to take back everything I'd said but not being able to. Frustrated because the things that I'd taken for granted being able to do I couldn't, knowing that some of it was temporary and some was stuff that I'd be able to do again someday when I was fully recovered but at the end of the day that didn't help a lot when dealing with my frustration...so yeah, I really got where Pierce was coming from.
Pierce takes refuge at his friend Derrick's Florida condo and on his first venture out to the pool to do some aqua therapy he finds himself being coached by an attractive young man who really seems to know his stuff when it comes to therapy. Hal's hiding out at his parent's condo...he's lonely, frustrated and just generally trying to get control of his life. He's been in school for 5 years trying to get his degree which would be a whole lot easier to accomplish if he wasn't squeezing the courses he wanted in between the ones his parents think he needs. Hal wants to be a pysio therapist...his parents want him to be a lawyer and probably not gay would be good in their eyes too.
Pierce and Hal fit together like puzzle pieces. Pierce needs help not just getting his body back in shape but getting his heart and soul in order too. Hal needs to help. He's a nurturer, helping people is in his soul, it's an integral part of who he is.
Hal thinks Pierce is a unicorn but Pierce...well, Pierce knows that the unicorn is Hal. He's bright and shiny, special and unique and Pierce is sure that he's too old and just not the good person that Hal sees in him.
I loved how well Hal and Pierce fit together, how good they were for each other and to each other. This was a sweet story about two people getting the best gifts of all for Christmas...the gifts of friendship, love and family.
Best of all a the end of the story when I thought I was going to have to have to say good-bye to this adorable pair, Ms. Lane gives the reader one last gift the promise of more...Pierce and Hal will be continuing their adventures and they'll be shared on the author's blog. I know I look forward to continuing to find out more about Hal and Pierce as they continue to go through life together sharing whatever comes their way.
*************************
An ARC of 'Regret Me Not' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2017
3.25 stars
I liked this, but didn’t love it.
32 year old Pierce is recovering from a serious car accident. Pierce is a bit of a grump because of his injuries, but also because of his divorce, and that’s why he knows he cannot let his sister take care of him while he recovers. He takes up his best friend on his offer to stay in his empty condo until Christmas. There Pierce is planning on daily swims in the condo’s communal pool and eating lots of canned soup. When he’s feeling a bit better he plans on spending Christmas with his sister.
On Pierce’s first day in the condo he meets a young guy by the pool. That young guy is 23 year old Hal, who is studying as a physical therapist. Pierce doesn’t quite know how it happens but suddenly Hal is acting as his own personal physical therapist/masseur/friend/perhaps more than friend. But Pierce thinks Hal is too young, too good for his grumpy ‘old’ ass..
I’m normally completely sucked in when reading Amy Lane’s books. But somehow that never happened here. The way the friendship started between these men was a little vague. And the same for the romance part. They kind of talk in circles for a while and vaguely admit their attraction before anything happens.
This is a very quiet book. We have Pierce and Hal and no one else. There are only a few other people present, but only on the phone. We mostly read about Pierce and Hal and their daily life in the weeks before Christmas, doing everything together to get Pierce in better shape.
I did have a hard time feeling real chemistry between these guys. We only get Pierce’s POV and while Hal was sweet, he wasn’t that clear of a character to me.
A nice holiday read, but not Amy Lane’s best.
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An ARC of Regret Me Not was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
I liked this, but didn’t love it.
32 year old Pierce is recovering from a serious car accident. Pierce is a bit of a grump because of his injuries, but also because of his divorce, and that’s why he knows he cannot let his sister take care of him while he recovers. He takes up his best friend on his offer to stay in his empty condo until Christmas. There Pierce is planning on daily swims in the condo’s communal pool and eating lots of canned soup. When he’s feeling a bit better he plans on spending Christmas with his sister.
On Pierce’s first day in the condo he meets a young guy by the pool. That young guy is 23 year old Hal, who is studying as a physical therapist. Pierce doesn’t quite know how it happens but suddenly Hal is acting as his own personal physical therapist/masseur/friend/perhaps more than friend. But Pierce thinks Hal is too young, too good for his grumpy ‘old’ ass..
I’m normally completely sucked in when reading Amy Lane’s books. But somehow that never happened here. The way the friendship started between these men was a little vague. And the same for the romance part. They kind of talk in circles for a while and vaguely admit their attraction before anything happens.
This is a very quiet book. We have Pierce and Hal and no one else. There are only a few other people present, but only on the phone. We mostly read about Pierce and Hal and their daily life in the weeks before Christmas, doing everything together to get Pierce in better shape.
I did have a hard time feeling real chemistry between these guys. We only get Pierce’s POV and while Hal was sweet, he wasn’t that clear of a character to me.
A nice holiday read, but not Amy Lane’s best.
------------------------------
An ARC of Regret Me Not was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
July 23, 2021
Recovering from a car accident, Pierce had been staying with his sister's family but after hearing himself berate his sister in their abusive father's tone of voice, Pierce borrows a friend's Florida condo, with plans to rehab and recover in solitary.
While doing aqua therapy in the pool, he meets Hal, the hot 23-year-old who is staying in his family's condo over the holidays. Turns out Hal is a massage therapist, has worked as a personal trainer and wants to be a physical therapist. He's the perfect person to kick Pierce's therapy into high gear, and maybe give him a well-deserved kick in his "grumpy old ass" for being so hard on himself for his all-too-human failings (losing his job, divorce).
At just a bit over 100 pages, this book felt very slow to me. Pierce and Hal are "on stage" for most of the book, with no strong secondary characters. The story details their days by the pool, working out, sharing meals, etc. in the weeks before Christmas (when Pierce will return to his sister's for Christmas, with eventual plans to return to Sacramento).
We only get Pierce's POV so Hal remained pretty much a mystery to me. We know bits and pieces of his family relationship, but little else. I didn't really feel much sexual chemistry between the two and their relationship feels very unexamined, with lots of dropped conversations and topics they leave undiscussed. The book ends with a HFN but the story did not work for me because I could not imagine these characters as a couple in the future. 3.5 stars.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
While doing aqua therapy in the pool, he meets Hal, the hot 23-year-old who is staying in his family's condo over the holidays. Turns out Hal is a massage therapist, has worked as a personal trainer and wants to be a physical therapist. He's the perfect person to kick Pierce's therapy into high gear, and maybe give him a well-deserved kick in his "grumpy old ass" for being so hard on himself for his all-too-human failings (losing his job, divorce).
At just a bit over 100 pages, this book felt very slow to me. Pierce and Hal are "on stage" for most of the book, with no strong secondary characters. The story details their days by the pool, working out, sharing meals, etc. in the weeks before Christmas (when Pierce will return to his sister's for Christmas, with eventual plans to return to Sacramento).
We only get Pierce's POV so Hal remained pretty much a mystery to me. We know bits and pieces of his family relationship, but little else. I didn't really feel much sexual chemistry between the two and their relationship feels very unexamined, with lots of dropped conversations and topics they leave undiscussed. The book ends with a HFN but the story did not work for me because I could not imagine these characters as a couple in the future. 3.5 stars.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
December 4, 2017
When I saw Amy Lane on the cover for this book, I didn’t even pay attention to the blurb, confident I would like it, which I did, very much, with only a few reservations. Pierce is recuperating from a serious car accident, which also resulted in asking his wife for a divorce and then getting laid off from his job. While still rehabilitating, he decides his attitude needs adjusting and goes to stay at a friends beach condo. He meets Hal at the pool and Hal steps in and decides he’s going to help with Pierce’s aqua-therapy. Before long, he’s with Pierce, helping him day to day.
There is an age-gap, and Pierce makes it sound greater than it is, only 9 years. I didn’t enjoy Pierce thinking of him as “the kid”, at 23 years old. Hal was written as relatively mature for his age but at the same time, typical for his age. It was sort of slow burn, although only two weeks by the book's timeline and sex still didn’t go all that far until near the end of the story. It’s all Pierce’s POV, in first person and the narrative occasionally seemed sluggish, focused more often on Pierce’s internal thoughts, rather than external action. I would have liked seeing Hal’s POV and I never completely understood the unicorn reference.
There are few secondary characters other than Pierce’s sister, but even those off page, appearing only in phone conversations; the ex wife, his friend and even the one sided telephone conversation with Hal’s father, makes them all quite real. It was fun, quirky and humorous at times and I liked the optimistic ending. Pierce finds his inner knight once again but Hal is no prince, more like a shining knight for Pierce. Although it’s barely an HFN, it’s noted that their story will continue with installments on Amy Lane's website. Recommended as a feel-good, low-sugar holiday read.
*An ARC was provided by the author or publisher and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for Jessie G Books Reviews blog*
There is an age-gap, and Pierce makes it sound greater than it is, only 9 years. I didn’t enjoy Pierce thinking of him as “the kid”, at 23 years old. Hal was written as relatively mature for his age but at the same time, typical for his age. It was sort of slow burn, although only two weeks by the book's timeline and sex still didn’t go all that far until near the end of the story. It’s all Pierce’s POV, in first person and the narrative occasionally seemed sluggish, focused more often on Pierce’s internal thoughts, rather than external action. I would have liked seeing Hal’s POV and I never completely understood the unicorn reference.
There are few secondary characters other than Pierce’s sister, but even those off page, appearing only in phone conversations; the ex wife, his friend and even the one sided telephone conversation with Hal’s father, makes them all quite real. It was fun, quirky and humorous at times and I liked the optimistic ending. Pierce finds his inner knight once again but Hal is no prince, more like a shining knight for Pierce. Although it’s barely an HFN, it’s noted that their story will continue with installments on Amy Lane's website. Recommended as a feel-good, low-sugar holiday read.
*An ARC was provided by the author or publisher and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for Jessie G Books Reviews blog*
November 12, 2017
I always love Amy Lane's sweet stories, with love and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Hal and Pierce met in a very unpleasant situation for Pierce, well after his accident, failed marriage, and currently no job. Hal didn't have a great situation too, ditched by his parents from coming home for Christmas because, gay. Gay son is bad for business.
This is a healing comfort romance, no real twist and angst, sweet but would not giving you diabetes,don't worry. It's just a right portion.
Of course, there's an Amy Lane's magical touch, that insta-love feels like, not an insta-love.
I liked how Hal, being much younger than Pierce he is, doesn't fall for the young and submissive type. He's bossy, demanding, and hard when it comes to Pierce's therapy. Pierce seemed enjoying being bossing around by Hal.
They're a match made in heaven.
This book has easily become one of my favorite Amy's holiday story, and definitely a re-reading material.
HEA guaranteed :) Because, hey...it's Christmas!
And Hal got what his dream Christmas gift he'd been dreaming of since he's twelve from Pierce, and Pierce promised himself he'll get Hal 'that gift' every year, forever. Sigh.
Love, love, love, love. I'm such a hopeless romantic, and I don't care!
Highly recommended!
Hal and Pierce met in a very unpleasant situation for Pierce, well after his accident, failed marriage, and currently no job. Hal didn't have a great situation too, ditched by his parents from coming home for Christmas because, gay. Gay son is bad for business.
This is a healing comfort romance, no real twist and angst, sweet but would not giving you diabetes,don't worry. It's just a right portion.
Of course, there's an Amy Lane's magical touch, that insta-love feels like, not an insta-love.
I liked how Hal, being much younger than Pierce he is, doesn't fall for the young and submissive type. He's bossy, demanding, and hard when it comes to Pierce's therapy. Pierce seemed enjoying being bossing around by Hal.
They're a match made in heaven.
"“You’re beautiful,”Pierce said, embarrassed. “You…I was so embarrassed, that first day, because you were so pretty—so beautiful, and you were talking to me, and I was at my worst in my entire life. I couldn’t even see your eyes then. And your eyes are beautiful. And your mouth is beautiful. I don’t know how you could have been anything but beautiful in high school. I…I just don’t understand.”"
This book has easily become one of my favorite Amy's holiday story, and definitely a re-reading material.
HEA guaranteed :) Because, hey...it's Christmas!
And Hal got what his dream Christmas gift he'd been dreaming of since he's twelve from Pierce, and Pierce promised himself he'll get Hal 'that gift' every year, forever. Sigh.
Love, love, love, love. I'm such a hopeless romantic, and I don't care!
Highly recommended!
December 19, 2017
Yup I’m a sucker for sweet and this was perfect. Light, easy and lots of unicorns to enjoy !
December 28, 2017
I absolutely adore Hal but I need to hear more of his backstory!!! Can't wait to read more from him and Pierce's via Amy's blog <3
January 1, 2018
This is quintessential low-angst Amy Lane. Or as low-angst as Amy Lane gets!
Recuperating from a bad car accident, and a failed marriage, Pierce Atwater hopes that a month in his friend’s waterfront Florida condo will help get him back on his feet. There he meets Hal Lombard, a young man torn between what he wants and what his parents expect of him.
It doesn’t take long for the two exiles to become friends, and then something more.
This novella consists almost entirely of Pierce and Hal, with only very short interludes by secondary characters. It makes for “quiet” and easy read.
When readers first meet Pierce, he’s a bit of a grouch. In pain because of his injuries, he’s lousy company. Hal is the exact opposite - he’s bubbly and lives in the moment.
Their first meet-cute sets a pattern for their relationship. Pierce is a bit of an ass, but Hal doesn’t let that stop him from pushing into Pierce’s life.
And Pierce can’t seem to stop himself from wanting Hal to push in.
I thought that the two were very sweet together from the start. Both men struggle with challenges in their personal life, but bring each other some happiness to ease their troubles. I couldn’t help but root for them!
It doesn’t take the two long to give in to the growing attraction between them, and they’re just as cute as a couple. There are a few bumps of their own making, but it’s fairly smooth sailing for Hal and Pierce.
However, I thought that the relationship development wasn’t fully fleshed out. I would have preferred to get a better sense of how and why Pierce and Hal fell for one another, aside from being two lonely queer men feeling the holiday blues in Florida.
That being said, the two click together seamlessly, and their happy ending is worthy of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Overall, I enjoyed ‘Regret Me Not’. If you’re looking for a sweet, low-angst, and low-drama holiday MM romance, give this novella a try!
Recuperating from a bad car accident, and a failed marriage, Pierce Atwater hopes that a month in his friend’s waterfront Florida condo will help get him back on his feet. There he meets Hal Lombard, a young man torn between what he wants and what his parents expect of him.
It doesn’t take long for the two exiles to become friends, and then something more.
This novella consists almost entirely of Pierce and Hal, with only very short interludes by secondary characters. It makes for “quiet” and easy read.
When readers first meet Pierce, he’s a bit of a grouch. In pain because of his injuries, he’s lousy company. Hal is the exact opposite - he’s bubbly and lives in the moment.
Their first meet-cute sets a pattern for their relationship. Pierce is a bit of an ass, but Hal doesn’t let that stop him from pushing into Pierce’s life.
And Pierce can’t seem to stop himself from wanting Hal to push in.
I thought that the two were very sweet together from the start. Both men struggle with challenges in their personal life, but bring each other some happiness to ease their troubles. I couldn’t help but root for them!
It doesn’t take the two long to give in to the growing attraction between them, and they’re just as cute as a couple. There are a few bumps of their own making, but it’s fairly smooth sailing for Hal and Pierce.
However, I thought that the relationship development wasn’t fully fleshed out. I would have preferred to get a better sense of how and why Pierce and Hal fell for one another, aside from being two lonely queer men feeling the holiday blues in Florida.
That being said, the two click together seamlessly, and their happy ending is worthy of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Overall, I enjoyed ‘Regret Me Not’. If you’re looking for a sweet, low-angst, and low-drama holiday MM romance, give this novella a try!
April 15, 2019
I usually love Amy Lane but I didn't love this one. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood but all the talk of unicorns was a bit odd. Plus I never really felt like we got to know Hal all that well. I had so many unanswered questions about him. This one was also a bit slow - it was mostly the day to day life of two men working out, shopping, eating and then adding sex into it. I don't know what was missing but something was at least for me.
April 19, 2018
Beautiful, sweet, endearing. LOVED IT! It was tender as it was heart breaking and I have a feeling if we got Hal's POV and not only Pierce's it would have been heart wrecking! so maybe Amy did us a favor focusing on Pierce. I loved everything about this book, it felt a whole story even though it was quite short and though Pierce and Hal MIGHT be considered too different to form something real together - they proved it - it's not about age, it's not about status, it's not about occupation or even where you live - it's about companionship, compassion, acceptance, tenderness, trust. THESE things are what makes a couple PERFECT together. These two have it all.
Pierce Atwater is at the lowest he's EVER been. Unemployed and o his way to divorce is really the icing on the cake.. He is also recovering from a car accident which left him shattered outside needing A LOT of time for recovering. In pain, grumpy and depressed he spend his time in his sister's house until he realizes his mean behavior shouldn't be directed toward the one person he loves and appreciated best in his life. Packing his stuff he decides to spend the month before Christmas in a friend's apartment in Florida. The best thing about said apartment is the pool allowing him the physiotherapy he needs on his long way to recovery.
Harold Justice Lombard the 5th, or in short - Hal is depressed. His family ditched him for the holidays AGAIN, and after a night drinking and vandalizing their summer apartment he sets up to sit by the pool still hungover when he sees Pierce working out in the pool. Not being able to ignore the guy, even if he is older than him in more than 10 years, he starts bossing him around, using his own knowledge on physiotherapy.
Pierce really doesn't know from where exactly Hal fell on him, but it turns out to be the best thing to happen to him. Hal's enthusiasm does more than just stretch his muscles in a more effective way it also offers him a friendship he couldn't believe he'll form, not in his grumpy state and not in the month off before he returns back to his life in Sacramento.
In the month Pierce and Hal spend together, they quickly become friends, dare I say best friends. Spending hours together, working out Pierce's stiff body, going shopping and simply enjoying each other's company. It doesn't take long for the attraction to surface but they are both a bit weary of its consequences, each for his own reasons. But they keep clinging to one another, trying to make the best they can of the time they DO have together before Pierce needs to return to his life far away from Hal.
Yet what Pierce and Hal have to offer to each other, in friendship as well as in love and companionship is not something to leave behind. They need to find a way to put the heavy stuff on the table and TALK about forever together before their time is up.
I have nothing to add really except - A MUST READ. I loved it to pieces. I was heart broken for both of them, for Hal's family situation which doesn't allow him to be who he wants to be and study what his heart desires, for Pierce's life situation to what he had to go through, for his lost self esteem with his current physical disability. Yet together they can make everything work. The easy companionship between these two was a soothing balm to the soul. READ IT!
More Reviews HERE
Pierce Atwater is at the lowest he's EVER been. Unemployed and o his way to divorce is really the icing on the cake.. He is also recovering from a car accident which left him shattered outside needing A LOT of time for recovering. In pain, grumpy and depressed he spend his time in his sister's house until he realizes his mean behavior shouldn't be directed toward the one person he loves and appreciated best in his life. Packing his stuff he decides to spend the month before Christmas in a friend's apartment in Florida. The best thing about said apartment is the pool allowing him the physiotherapy he needs on his long way to recovery.
Harold Justice Lombard the 5th, or in short - Hal is depressed. His family ditched him for the holidays AGAIN, and after a night drinking and vandalizing their summer apartment he sets up to sit by the pool still hungover when he sees Pierce working out in the pool. Not being able to ignore the guy, even if he is older than him in more than 10 years, he starts bossing him around, using his own knowledge on physiotherapy.
Pierce really doesn't know from where exactly Hal fell on him, but it turns out to be the best thing to happen to him. Hal's enthusiasm does more than just stretch his muscles in a more effective way it also offers him a friendship he couldn't believe he'll form, not in his grumpy state and not in the month off before he returns back to his life in Sacramento.
In the month Pierce and Hal spend together, they quickly become friends, dare I say best friends. Spending hours together, working out Pierce's stiff body, going shopping and simply enjoying each other's company. It doesn't take long for the attraction to surface but they are both a bit weary of its consequences, each for his own reasons. But they keep clinging to one another, trying to make the best they can of the time they DO have together before Pierce needs to return to his life far away from Hal.
Yet what Pierce and Hal have to offer to each other, in friendship as well as in love and companionship is not something to leave behind. They need to find a way to put the heavy stuff on the table and TALK about forever together before their time is up.
I have nothing to add really except - A MUST READ. I loved it to pieces. I was heart broken for both of them, for Hal's family situation which doesn't allow him to be who he wants to be and study what his heart desires, for Pierce's life situation to what he had to go through, for his lost self esteem with his current physical disability. Yet together they can make everything work. The easy companionship between these two was a soothing balm to the soul. READ IT!
More Reviews HERE
January 8, 2022
Set in the 30 days before Christmas, this wasn't as angsty as some other books I've read by this author, but there was still some baggage the two MCs had to deal with. This was a free book I picked up. I enjoyed reading it. There are also some free fics the author posted on her blog that follow the HFN ending.
December 9, 2017
I love putting together my Christmas wish list of favorite authors holiday stories and Amy Lane always has a reserved spot.
This year her story was…different. But in the most intriguing way.
Pierce has hit rock bottom. His life literally crashed and he’s struggling to put the pieces back together. He lost his job, left his wife, and is recovering from a nasty car accident. Jaws of life rescued him from the mangled automobile but his mental health suffered as much as his broken body. The single bright spot he has remaining in his life is his sister and he was horrified to discover his anger and bitterness thrown at her. He can’t trust himself and needs a time-out from his shattered life. He escapes to his bestie’s vacation home in Florida hoping the hot sunshine will burn away the black cloud stuck over his head. What he never expected was the blinding irresistible rays from the cute young neighbor at the property. Hal is unlike anyone he’s ever encountered before. As the days melt away, he finds his way again but not without the direction of Hal. His thirty-day getaway is almost over and now that he’s found someone who ignites him from the inside out, he’s not sure how he’s going to leave him. But holiday flings have an expiration date…right?
What's to like: Quirky humor balances the heaviness of Pierce’s situation. Pierce almost died and experiencing a brush with death rattles a person deeply. Then he faces that fact that he’s not happy with his marriage. He’s divorcing his wife but they are still in the process of disentangling their lives. There is an awkward phone call between Pierce and his soon to be ex that adds to the weight of his grief. He is mourning his old life. But on the flip side, he’s finally breaking free and ready to start anew. Hal is the fresh, fun spark we all need. Without Hal’s eccentric and magnetic draw, this would have been a rather depressing story.
What's to love: Hal is an unforgettable bundle of joy and cheer. I adored his bossy yet tender personality. I loved how he pushed Pierce but only with the best intentions. Hal is thoughtful and considerate and most of all…fun. He has hurdled his own disappointments and had to fend off attacks on his heart. He appears stronger than he may be but putting on a smile and pushing through is the only way he knows how to be. It seems unlikely that he would fall for the grumpy, bitter older hottie at the pool but the best gifts are those that are unexpected. Hal is a caretaker at heart and loves helping Pierce. He doesn’t question taking a chance when the odds are against him but can he convince Pierce to do the same? Well, there’s one way to find out…..
Beware of: Age gap, distance, and previous relationships are only a few obstacles these boys have to clear. Although it’s a holiday story, it wouldn’t be Amy Lane without a dash of angst.
This book is for: Lane groupies! This is a tender story about healing when given a painful but clean slate…the burn is slow…AND the story is not over. I’m glad and will certainly keep my eyes out for updates on their upcoming adventures!
Book UNfunk
This year her story was…different. But in the most intriguing way.
Pierce has hit rock bottom. His life literally crashed and he’s struggling to put the pieces back together. He lost his job, left his wife, and is recovering from a nasty car accident. Jaws of life rescued him from the mangled automobile but his mental health suffered as much as his broken body. The single bright spot he has remaining in his life is his sister and he was horrified to discover his anger and bitterness thrown at her. He can’t trust himself and needs a time-out from his shattered life. He escapes to his bestie’s vacation home in Florida hoping the hot sunshine will burn away the black cloud stuck over his head. What he never expected was the blinding irresistible rays from the cute young neighbor at the property. Hal is unlike anyone he’s ever encountered before. As the days melt away, he finds his way again but not without the direction of Hal. His thirty-day getaway is almost over and now that he’s found someone who ignites him from the inside out, he’s not sure how he’s going to leave him. But holiday flings have an expiration date…right?
What's to like: Quirky humor balances the heaviness of Pierce’s situation. Pierce almost died and experiencing a brush with death rattles a person deeply. Then he faces that fact that he’s not happy with his marriage. He’s divorcing his wife but they are still in the process of disentangling their lives. There is an awkward phone call between Pierce and his soon to be ex that adds to the weight of his grief. He is mourning his old life. But on the flip side, he’s finally breaking free and ready to start anew. Hal is the fresh, fun spark we all need. Without Hal’s eccentric and magnetic draw, this would have been a rather depressing story.
What's to love: Hal is an unforgettable bundle of joy and cheer. I adored his bossy yet tender personality. I loved how he pushed Pierce but only with the best intentions. Hal is thoughtful and considerate and most of all…fun. He has hurdled his own disappointments and had to fend off attacks on his heart. He appears stronger than he may be but putting on a smile and pushing through is the only way he knows how to be. It seems unlikely that he would fall for the grumpy, bitter older hottie at the pool but the best gifts are those that are unexpected. Hal is a caretaker at heart and loves helping Pierce. He doesn’t question taking a chance when the odds are against him but can he convince Pierce to do the same? Well, there’s one way to find out…..
Beware of: Age gap, distance, and previous relationships are only a few obstacles these boys have to clear. Although it’s a holiday story, it wouldn’t be Amy Lane without a dash of angst.
This book is for: Lane groupies! This is a tender story about healing when given a painful but clean slate…the burn is slow…AND the story is not over. I’m glad and will certainly keep my eyes out for updates on their upcoming adventures!
Book UNfunk
December 17, 2017
An auto accident shatters Pierce Atwater’s knee and gives him the impetus to tell his wife he’s going to divorce her, and then his place of employment takes advantage of his lack of availability and lays him off, so it’s all downhill from there. The thirty-two-year-old takes advantage of a generous offer from his sister and a friend and he heads to Florida to heal—in more ways than one. Thinking of himself as a crotchety, crippled old guy, he’s shocked when a handsome young man spots him by the pool of the condo he’s renting and seems to find him attractive and interesting.
Hal, aka, Howard Justice Lombard the Fifth, has been cast off by his family for being gay and an embarrassment. After all, he refuses to buckle down in school to take the credits he needs for his law degree, and he insists on getting a massage therapy certificate before agreeing to complete his next semester’s enrollment. Though his parents have given him to New Year’s to get registered, they exert the pressure anyway. These two young men easily find their way to each other as Hal takes charge of Pierce’s pool therapy and guides his recovery in more ways than one and Pierce values Hal for who he is, not who he knows or what he does.
In typical Amy Lane fashion, we aren’t just told how these men feel, we are shown. And when they feel, they FEEL. I love this author’s writing style, especially when she’s dealing with young men who have emotional baggage but are otherwise relatively “normal,” i.e., they are not werewolves or criminals or from outer space. It’s uplifting to witness this heartwarming holiday tale as two men fall in love within the few weeks they spend together. As the story closes, Hal and Pierce are set to hit both families for holiday visits—a farewell visit in the case of Hal’s family—and to start their adventure together as they cross the country to Pierce’s hometown in California and the new job that awaits him there.
I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a heartwarming story of self-acceptance and love. Happy holidays!
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review
Hal, aka, Howard Justice Lombard the Fifth, has been cast off by his family for being gay and an embarrassment. After all, he refuses to buckle down in school to take the credits he needs for his law degree, and he insists on getting a massage therapy certificate before agreeing to complete his next semester’s enrollment. Though his parents have given him to New Year’s to get registered, they exert the pressure anyway. These two young men easily find their way to each other as Hal takes charge of Pierce’s pool therapy and guides his recovery in more ways than one and Pierce values Hal for who he is, not who he knows or what he does.
In typical Amy Lane fashion, we aren’t just told how these men feel, we are shown. And when they feel, they FEEL. I love this author’s writing style, especially when she’s dealing with young men who have emotional baggage but are otherwise relatively “normal,” i.e., they are not werewolves or criminals or from outer space. It’s uplifting to witness this heartwarming holiday tale as two men fall in love within the few weeks they spend together. As the story closes, Hal and Pierce are set to hit both families for holiday visits—a farewell visit in the case of Hal’s family—and to start their adventure together as they cross the country to Pierce’s hometown in California and the new job that awaits him there.
I highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a heartwarming story of self-acceptance and love. Happy holidays!
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review
January 9, 2018
I liked it, but it was just a little more grim than I usually prefer my holiday stories.
March 31, 2018
This was the saddest HEA book I've ever read. Pierce & Hall just tug at your heart strings all through the book.
December 29, 2017
3.5 stars. This was trademark Amy Lane fluff.... the stuff she writes in between the deeper character driven stuff she writes.
Amy always tells a great story, but I like her deeper stuff better.
Amy always tells a great story, but I like her deeper stuff better.
December 10, 2017
Hmm...this was a tough book to rate. While I did like the slow burn of the story, at the same time, I feel that I still don't know enough about each character. Hope to see more of them.
December 5, 2017
It was tough not to empathize and feel for both Hal and Pierce. Two very lonely and lost souls, one recovering from a horrific accident, and the other trying to decide his place in the world. The writing is fabulous just as I find it always is with this author, but there’s something a little different here, a romance that is just packed with glances, hidden touches, innuendos that might not have been innuendos, a friendship they both desperately need, and the most wonderful sexual and intimate, tension.
“You can’t,” he said fervently, because this suddenly seemed important. “You can’t. A relationship isn’t like that—you can’t protect yourself, even if you know the dangers. You protect yourself and you’ll just… it’s like a circuit. You can’t make a circuit with the vinyl still on the wires. You either strip the protection off to make the circuit complete and hope it doesn’t explode, or nothing ever happens.”
Hal and Pierce aren’t that different from each other even with the nine-year age difference. Pierce may have been a crotchety, bitter, sometimes a**hole man when he got to his sister’s in Florida, but he almost died in that car accident and everything hurt. He still showed how sweet he was when he took his best friend up on his offer to stay in his condo on the beach, and got out of his sister’s hair until he could find his inner unicorn again. Hal is at his parents’ condo because Dad is a conservative judge in North Carolina and his parents are having a lot of friends around over the holidays and their gay son is a huge disappointment. Hal needs to take this time to decide whether he wants to stick with what he wants to do with his life, or give in and end up at college majoring in what his parents want. He’s very good at being a trainer, teaching yoga and massage, but somehow this past year with losing his boyfriend he thought would be forever, Hal has lost his unicorn, too. Both men have crappy childhood memories to go along with the crappy parents they got. Pierce protects his baby sister and her family from theirs but who protects Hal?
“You’ll always be a unicorn,” he promised. “You’ll be forty-five and a unicorn. Or sixty. Just because I’m not as strong as you are doesn’t mean I don’t believe in you.”
Hal shook his head and buried his face in the hollow of Pierce’s shoulder. “You are,” he hiccupped. “You are a unicorn. You just won’t see….”
An absolutely lovely, sweet, and delightful slow-burn romance. ‘Regret Me Not’ should be read in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate, and perhaps a little peppermint schnapps added. Every moment of this story I could see Hal and Pierce in my mind and it was everything I hoped and needed it to be.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
“You can’t,” he said fervently, because this suddenly seemed important. “You can’t. A relationship isn’t like that—you can’t protect yourself, even if you know the dangers. You protect yourself and you’ll just… it’s like a circuit. You can’t make a circuit with the vinyl still on the wires. You either strip the protection off to make the circuit complete and hope it doesn’t explode, or nothing ever happens.”
Hal and Pierce aren’t that different from each other even with the nine-year age difference. Pierce may have been a crotchety, bitter, sometimes a**hole man when he got to his sister’s in Florida, but he almost died in that car accident and everything hurt. He still showed how sweet he was when he took his best friend up on his offer to stay in his condo on the beach, and got out of his sister’s hair until he could find his inner unicorn again. Hal is at his parents’ condo because Dad is a conservative judge in North Carolina and his parents are having a lot of friends around over the holidays and their gay son is a huge disappointment. Hal needs to take this time to decide whether he wants to stick with what he wants to do with his life, or give in and end up at college majoring in what his parents want. He’s very good at being a trainer, teaching yoga and massage, but somehow this past year with losing his boyfriend he thought would be forever, Hal has lost his unicorn, too. Both men have crappy childhood memories to go along with the crappy parents they got. Pierce protects his baby sister and her family from theirs but who protects Hal?
“You’ll always be a unicorn,” he promised. “You’ll be forty-five and a unicorn. Or sixty. Just because I’m not as strong as you are doesn’t mean I don’t believe in you.”
Hal shook his head and buried his face in the hollow of Pierce’s shoulder. “You are,” he hiccupped. “You are a unicorn. You just won’t see….”
An absolutely lovely, sweet, and delightful slow-burn romance. ‘Regret Me Not’ should be read in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate, and perhaps a little peppermint schnapps added. Every moment of this story I could see Hal and Pierce in my mind and it was everything I hoped and needed it to be.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
December 9, 2017
Pierce broke more than his body when his car crashed. Now, with his divorce looming, his anger and disgust with himself in the driver’s seat, and his life a shambles, he can barely get out of bed much less enjoy the Florida coastline from the condo his best friend has let him borrow during his recovery. Despite the fact that he nearly snapped his poor sister’s head off the first few weeks out of the hospital, she has made him promise he will return to her and her family in a month for Christmas. As Pierce drags himself to the pool in order to begin the aqua therapy he must endure, he collides with a force of nature named Hal.
Hal is having his own quiet breakdown. Not only has he lost his boyfriend, but his wealthy and uptight parents have demanded he give up the pursuit of his massage therapy licensure for a more staid and acceptable law degree, or they will cut the purse strings. When he sees Pierce, he makes it his mission to become the man’s personal trainer, and the two men begin a somewhat rocky friendship that quickly blossoms into more. But Pierce has real reservations about how young Hal is, and doubts that he is half the nice guy the younger man declares him to be.
No matter what, Christmas is looming and Pierce is going to have to make a decision—pursue this intangible connection he feels with Hal, or walk away for good. If he does, his body may not be the only broken thing Pierce must contend with when he leaves Hal behind. His heart may shatter too.
Sometimes an author manages to write a character that is utterly sublime from top to bottom and everywhere in between. This was the case with Amy Lane’s creation of Hal Lombard. Hal refuses to see anything but the best in Pierce. With absolute certainty, he pursues Pierce’s therapy and his heart. To be honest, both Pierce and Hal were incredible, and this sweet story, Regret Me Not, will most certainly go down as one of my Christmas favorites this year. Between the tension that the age difference creates and the emotional crippling Pierce has experienced over the years, Pierce struggles with the idea that Hal should be hands off, not someone he should ever get involved with much less fall for in so short a time.
But the heart wants what it wants, and, in this case, it is this dynamic, sweet young man who, in turn, simply wants to be loved and needed. These two are a match made in heaven. They expend so much energy trying to avoid the fact that they are deeply attracted to one another that you find yourself on tenterhooks just praying these guys come to their senses before it’s too late. This story is just magical. The chemistry between Hal and Pierce feels so genuine and so right. It is just lovely sitting by the sidelines watching their story unfold.
Regret Me Not by Amy Lane is just the right blend of sweet and romantic—a lovely Christmas story you won’t want to miss.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
Hal is having his own quiet breakdown. Not only has he lost his boyfriend, but his wealthy and uptight parents have demanded he give up the pursuit of his massage therapy licensure for a more staid and acceptable law degree, or they will cut the purse strings. When he sees Pierce, he makes it his mission to become the man’s personal trainer, and the two men begin a somewhat rocky friendship that quickly blossoms into more. But Pierce has real reservations about how young Hal is, and doubts that he is half the nice guy the younger man declares him to be.
No matter what, Christmas is looming and Pierce is going to have to make a decision—pursue this intangible connection he feels with Hal, or walk away for good. If he does, his body may not be the only broken thing Pierce must contend with when he leaves Hal behind. His heart may shatter too.
Sometimes an author manages to write a character that is utterly sublime from top to bottom and everywhere in between. This was the case with Amy Lane’s creation of Hal Lombard. Hal refuses to see anything but the best in Pierce. With absolute certainty, he pursues Pierce’s therapy and his heart. To be honest, both Pierce and Hal were incredible, and this sweet story, Regret Me Not, will most certainly go down as one of my Christmas favorites this year. Between the tension that the age difference creates and the emotional crippling Pierce has experienced over the years, Pierce struggles with the idea that Hal should be hands off, not someone he should ever get involved with much less fall for in so short a time.
But the heart wants what it wants, and, in this case, it is this dynamic, sweet young man who, in turn, simply wants to be loved and needed. These two are a match made in heaven. They expend so much energy trying to avoid the fact that they are deeply attracted to one another that you find yourself on tenterhooks just praying these guys come to their senses before it’s too late. This story is just magical. The chemistry between Hal and Pierce feels so genuine and so right. It is just lovely sitting by the sidelines watching their story unfold.
Regret Me Not by Amy Lane is just the right blend of sweet and romantic—a lovely Christmas story you won’t want to miss.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach
December 4, 2017
Reviewed by Jenn for Diverse Reader
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Regret Me Not is a story of two men unlikely to become friends yet alone lovers. What we do know though is these two men are special, they’re unicorns. No, not actual unicorns, but together they do develop something magical.
Pierce Atwater is hurt, divorcing and trying to handle his physical therapy all alone in Florida. Staying at his best friend’s condo, he has no expectations other than maybe getting a little better and being alone and grumpy. Enter Harold Justice Lombard the Fifth, would be massage therapist. Hal is a college student banished to Florida by his family for being too gay to be home for the Christmas holiday. Hal helps Pierce with his aqua therapy and runs down his sore muscles after those workouts. At first Pierce doesn’t understand why Hal would help him or even want to be around him. Quickly these two become friends and both of them start to come alive with the other’s support. I loved seeing their friendship, it has an almost childlike innocence to it. That friendship becomes attraction and soon the two are practically living together....on borrowed time. Pierce is only in Florida for a month, but a lot can happen in a month. Hal and Pierce become each other’s closest friend, confidant, lover and champion. The way Amy Lane writes this story of friendship and love is so believable because if ever two men needed each other, it’s Hal and Pierce! These two unicorns deserve their happily ever after!
I really loved this book, you feel the deep rooted loneliness in these men. Watching them play almost like children is so sweet, especially with the heat that summers under the surface. Two people that don’t seem to make any sense or have anything in common, just work. You understand that they’ve found Home in each other. It’s just a lovely love story that I highly recommend!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Regret Me Not is a story of two men unlikely to become friends yet alone lovers. What we do know though is these two men are special, they’re unicorns. No, not actual unicorns, but together they do develop something magical.
Pierce Atwater is hurt, divorcing and trying to handle his physical therapy all alone in Florida. Staying at his best friend’s condo, he has no expectations other than maybe getting a little better and being alone and grumpy. Enter Harold Justice Lombard the Fifth, would be massage therapist. Hal is a college student banished to Florida by his family for being too gay to be home for the Christmas holiday. Hal helps Pierce with his aqua therapy and runs down his sore muscles after those workouts. At first Pierce doesn’t understand why Hal would help him or even want to be around him. Quickly these two become friends and both of them start to come alive with the other’s support. I loved seeing their friendship, it has an almost childlike innocence to it. That friendship becomes attraction and soon the two are practically living together....on borrowed time. Pierce is only in Florida for a month, but a lot can happen in a month. Hal and Pierce become each other’s closest friend, confidant, lover and champion. The way Amy Lane writes this story of friendship and love is so believable because if ever two men needed each other, it’s Hal and Pierce! These two unicorns deserve their happily ever after!
I really loved this book, you feel the deep rooted loneliness in these men. Watching them play almost like children is so sweet, especially with the heat that summers under the surface. Two people that don’t seem to make any sense or have anything in common, just work. You understand that they’ve found Home in each other. It’s just a lovely love story that I highly recommend!
Read
December 4, 2017A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Oh Amy Lane, how I love thee, let me count the ways! She’s done it again folks. Amy Lane is pretty much an auto buy for me and while not everything she writes is a grand slam, Regret Me Not certainly is. Lane manages to pack a walloping dose of sweetness, romance, tenderness, and just a dash of angst into this story of two men struggling to find purpose. Pierce and Hal have each come to a personal crossroads. Pierce is basically starting over after a year of devastating events, while Hal must decide if pursuing his passion is worth walking away from his inheritance. Both are well rounded and have surprising depth given the shorter length of this novel. Hal is a man who needs to be needed and Pierce is definitely at a point in his life where he needs a little succor. But neither overwhelms the other or comes away feeling as lesser. They make an equal and excellently matched couple.
There is a strong element of unhappy families throughout Regret Me Not. Pierce and his sister Sasha have ceased contact with their parents. And Hal has little or no affection for his wealthy, distant, and demanding mother and father. This isolated both men further and very much fuels the idea that families are bound by love rather than blood. The level of angst here is perfect, just enough without becoming maudlin. Christmas is set as a backdrop, but serves as a rather menacing date, one that threatens to separate rather than unite. Normally speedy romances come away feeling rushed and uneven, but Regret Me Not manages to make Pierce and Hal a believable couple, despite their limited acquaintance. This is no small feat and adds to the well- balanced plot and character exploration of the book.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Oh Amy Lane, how I love thee, let me count the ways! She’s done it again folks. Amy Lane is pretty much an auto buy for me and while not everything she writes is a grand slam, Regret Me Not certainly is. Lane manages to pack a walloping dose of sweetness, romance, tenderness, and just a dash of angst into this story of two men struggling to find purpose. Pierce and Hal have each come to a personal crossroads. Pierce is basically starting over after a year of devastating events, while Hal must decide if pursuing his passion is worth walking away from his inheritance. Both are well rounded and have surprising depth given the shorter length of this novel. Hal is a man who needs to be needed and Pierce is definitely at a point in his life where he needs a little succor. But neither overwhelms the other or comes away feeling as lesser. They make an equal and excellently matched couple.
There is a strong element of unhappy families throughout Regret Me Not. Pierce and his sister Sasha have ceased contact with their parents. And Hal has little or no affection for his wealthy, distant, and demanding mother and father. This isolated both men further and very much fuels the idea that families are bound by love rather than blood. The level of angst here is perfect, just enough without becoming maudlin. Christmas is set as a backdrop, but serves as a rather menacing date, one that threatens to separate rather than unite. Normally speedy romances come away feeling rushed and uneven, but Regret Me Not manages to make Pierce and Hal a believable couple, despite their limited acquaintance. This is no small feat and adds to the well- balanced plot and character exploration of the book.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
December 4, 2017
I adore Amy Lane's books, but especially her Christmas tales. Without fail, they're lovely stories that make me happy sigh, and Regret Me Not is no exception.
Pierce is very clearly a guy in a bad mental place. He's recovering from a serious car accident that nearly killed him, and he's in pain and frustrated with himself and life. He's also dealing with being laid off, and initiating a divorce from his wife of seven years. So, yeah, here's at rock bottom, but you get the sense that when he's not, he's a really good, solid, stand-up guy. He's just having a bit of a wallow, even though he hates it.
Enter Hal, an early-twenties would-be massage therapist whose family has declared him "too gay" to be included in their Christmas celebrations. (Oh man, give me a minute on the phone with his parents and I'll tell them what they could do with that.) So he's hurting too, but he recognizes that he's in a unique position to help his new, temporary neighbor, and as a result, something sweet and supportive sparks between him and Pierce.
As always with Amy's characters, both Hal and Pierce come across as very genuine. You're cheering for both of them from the start, for different reasons. There's very little angst in this book -- just enough to give the emotions some depth -- and it ends with a really strong, hopeful HFN. A note at the back states that Amy Lane will be writing more of Pierce and Hal's adventures on her blog as the new year progresses, and I can't wait.
Pierce is very clearly a guy in a bad mental place. He's recovering from a serious car accident that nearly killed him, and he's in pain and frustrated with himself and life. He's also dealing with being laid off, and initiating a divorce from his wife of seven years. So, yeah, here's at rock bottom, but you get the sense that when he's not, he's a really good, solid, stand-up guy. He's just having a bit of a wallow, even though he hates it.
Enter Hal, an early-twenties would-be massage therapist whose family has declared him "too gay" to be included in their Christmas celebrations. (Oh man, give me a minute on the phone with his parents and I'll tell them what they could do with that.) So he's hurting too, but he recognizes that he's in a unique position to help his new, temporary neighbor, and as a result, something sweet and supportive sparks between him and Pierce.
As always with Amy's characters, both Hal and Pierce come across as very genuine. You're cheering for both of them from the start, for different reasons. There's very little angst in this book -- just enough to give the emotions some depth -- and it ends with a really strong, hopeful HFN. A note at the back states that Amy Lane will be writing more of Pierce and Hal's adventures on her blog as the new year progresses, and I can't wait.
December 5, 2017
A strangely subdued book choked-full with slightly blurry characters plighting their trade and living their mediocre lives against a blotchy background (the charming small town before the holidays is a trope that has been done to death and back; here it predictably fails to adorn with more vivid colors a tale sketched in washed-out tones). A pity, really, that it was the least interesting half of the pair of eventual lovebirds who gets to be storyteller; indeed one despairs of even seasoned writers falling for this pitfall of favouring the least technically challenging character to be spokesperson, thus leaving their better half in comparative obscurity. Between this slovenly tactic, the tepid, low-energy romance sprinkled with enouch sugar the reader's teeth stand at immediate risk of cavities, frail and only tentative connection between the protagonists (Harold's sole asset for Pierce seems to be his cuteness - in which case I would avise the drifting hero to look for a Care Bear® or Little Pony®), and so much idle chitchat before anything happens that one has the distinct feeling of being immersed in a endless talkathon without any clue as to the subject-matter, this is a waste of Mrs Lane's usual flair for style and touching banter. Unless it is me who was not in the mood for this work, her literary gifts would appear to have slumbered during the completion of a project that, from the start, seemed to be beneath her talent.
December 1, 2017
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is a really enjoyable read, with a Christmas timing, but much more depth than many festive romances. The fact that it is set by the ocean in Florida makes the activities less traditionally Christmas, although Hal makes sure that they do get to decorate too.
Pierce is an interesting mix of hero, and Eeyore; luckily Hal has found the way to unlock his warmer side, and it is lovely to see how they heal each other. They are fun pair together, and support each other in just the way you would hope. I was delighted with the ending, and will be following Ms Lane's blog to see what happens next.
This is a really enjoyable read, with a Christmas timing, but much more depth than many festive romances. The fact that it is set by the ocean in Florida makes the activities less traditionally Christmas, although Hal makes sure that they do get to decorate too.
Pierce is an interesting mix of hero, and Eeyore; luckily Hal has found the way to unlock his warmer side, and it is lovely to see how they heal each other. They are fun pair together, and support each other in just the way you would hope. I was delighted with the ending, and will be following Ms Lane's blog to see what happens next.
February 28, 2018
I liked this Christmas age difference romance.
Hal is a mess and Pierce is a mess. And yet together they begin to heal and make sense.
The slow seduction is nice and I love the character drive plot.
Pierce is grumpy and Hal is bold but they both are hurting.
I would have liked to see more of the love story after they committed to each other but overall I really enjoyed this read.
Hal is a mess and Pierce is a mess. And yet together they begin to heal and make sense.
The slow seduction is nice and I love the character drive plot.
Pierce is grumpy and Hal is bold but they both are hurting.
I would have liked to see more of the love story after they committed to each other but overall I really enjoyed this read.
September 15, 2018
Tears...and more tears. But so beautiful. Gives you hope that maybe there's love for even the most miserable. I loves this book
December 9, 2017
4.5 heart review for Love Bytes Reviews!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
Oh yes! A holiday story with some depth! I am a big fan of fluffy holiday stories, but trust Amy Lane to give us one with some drama…
Pierce is a mess. He’s been in a nasty car accident, has asked his obnoxious wife for a divorce, his parents are assholes, and he’s jobless. He’s in Florida recovering at his sisters, but he’s been a grumpy jerk and feels likes he’s worn out his welcome. He takes advantage of a friend’s offer of the use of his condo for a month, and his sister agrees, with the understanding that he’ll be back at her house for Christmas. Pierce gets dropped off, and settles in to be a grumpy bastard. Until he meets Hal.
While taking advantage of the swimming pool at the condo complex, Pierce is helped/harassed by a kid in a pair of sunglasses. The kid actually does help, and offers to help more the next day. It turns out Hal is on his way to a massage therapy license, is a personal trainer, and not a kid. But he does have his own issues. His parents don’t get the gay, don’t get the massage therapist idea, and kick him out for the holidays. He is hiding in the family condo, planning on a nice drinking binge. Until he meets Pierce.
The two strike up an unusual friendship, which turns in to so much more.
I am fond of grumpy bastards that turn out to be softies on the inside. And that is what we get with Pierce. He’s hurting physically and emotionally, and Hal is exactly what he needs. The older Pierce, has experience to offer, but is somewhat reluctant to offer help and love, thinking Hal needs someone his own age, and not so fucked up. But Hal seems to see Pierce as a project. Hal has the ability to work on Pierce’s physical issues, and it turns out he can help with the emotional ones as well.
The two bond over trips to Target, Legos, food, Christmas decorations, and their personal family dramas.
This is a sweet holiday story, that will leave you warm and fuzzy. But there is more to it than that! Both of these men have problems, both have family issues, and both need some serious love. They are able to open their hearts and find that love. And I loved this book! It’s part fluffy and part drama. No real angst, just the family drama that occurs off page, and the two working through some shit. But a little drama is still there, under the unicorn references and stuffed bears! The sex scenes were very well done and realistic considering Pierce’s physical limitations, but also sweet and gentle. The two characters are different and interesting, and I loved the relationship that forms between them. Hal with his need to care, and Pierce will the need for caring. And the ending…. oh yes!
It’s what I come to expect from this author when she’s not trying to rip my heart out. A little fluff, a little drama, a little sex, and a lot of romance!
Definitely put this one on your Christmas list!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
Oh yes! A holiday story with some depth! I am a big fan of fluffy holiday stories, but trust Amy Lane to give us one with some drama…
Pierce is a mess. He’s been in a nasty car accident, has asked his obnoxious wife for a divorce, his parents are assholes, and he’s jobless. He’s in Florida recovering at his sisters, but he’s been a grumpy jerk and feels likes he’s worn out his welcome. He takes advantage of a friend’s offer of the use of his condo for a month, and his sister agrees, with the understanding that he’ll be back at her house for Christmas. Pierce gets dropped off, and settles in to be a grumpy bastard. Until he meets Hal.
While taking advantage of the swimming pool at the condo complex, Pierce is helped/harassed by a kid in a pair of sunglasses. The kid actually does help, and offers to help more the next day. It turns out Hal is on his way to a massage therapy license, is a personal trainer, and not a kid. But he does have his own issues. His parents don’t get the gay, don’t get the massage therapist idea, and kick him out for the holidays. He is hiding in the family condo, planning on a nice drinking binge. Until he meets Pierce.
The two strike up an unusual friendship, which turns in to so much more.
I am fond of grumpy bastards that turn out to be softies on the inside. And that is what we get with Pierce. He’s hurting physically and emotionally, and Hal is exactly what he needs. The older Pierce, has experience to offer, but is somewhat reluctant to offer help and love, thinking Hal needs someone his own age, and not so fucked up. But Hal seems to see Pierce as a project. Hal has the ability to work on Pierce’s physical issues, and it turns out he can help with the emotional ones as well.
The two bond over trips to Target, Legos, food, Christmas decorations, and their personal family dramas.
This is a sweet holiday story, that will leave you warm and fuzzy. But there is more to it than that! Both of these men have problems, both have family issues, and both need some serious love. They are able to open their hearts and find that love. And I loved this book! It’s part fluffy and part drama. No real angst, just the family drama that occurs off page, and the two working through some shit. But a little drama is still there, under the unicorn references and stuffed bears! The sex scenes were very well done and realistic considering Pierce’s physical limitations, but also sweet and gentle. The two characters are different and interesting, and I loved the relationship that forms between them. Hal with his need to care, and Pierce will the need for caring. And the ending…. oh yes!
It’s what I come to expect from this author when she’s not trying to rip my heart out. A little fluff, a little drama, a little sex, and a lot of romance!
Definitely put this one on your Christmas list!
December 5, 2017
Have you ever read a book and found yourself talking to the characters, like "You're a cranky one aren't ya?" directly to Pierce? , followed by a "hmmm you are so hungover" to Hal. Regret Me Not grabbed me immediately and pulled me in so quickly I was making comments out loud right away. And then I carried on throughout the whole book this way. The recipient of the loudest comments however was the author herself, how dare she hold back some of my story....what is this HFN stuff. I want it all now.
Now I have been know to laugh out loud or tear up a bit, but outright snark at characters is not the norm. But this is not a normal Christmas book either. Oh it's a Christmas story, it's full of holiday stuff; shopping, decorating and reminiscing. And it takes place in the month leading up to Christmas , but that's about where the similarities end. Really it the story of two guys falling completely and totally, life changingly, in love. It is incredibly fresh and modern, and yet timeless at the same time. A true contemporary holiday story. Its the grinch and the happiest elf ever, it's a May/Sept, friends to lovers , you name it story. and it sucked me right in. I loved it.
Regret Me Not is not a typical Amy Lane story either, no heavy angst or drama tugging at the heart strings. It is an in your face kind of story. Christmas Kitsch was an absolute tear jerker in comparison, but the bones are similar. Maybe that is why I fell right into the story, and gobbled it up in one sitting. Maybe its the magic that happens when a good writer has an excellent story to tell, and creates amazing guys to tell it with. I can't explain why this book so awesome, I can only say it was.
As you can tell by my dribbling I am still wrapped up in the story, I need to digest it more before re reading it, but I will re read it soon. And I will be tapping my fingers impatiently for the promised more.
Now I have been know to laugh out loud or tear up a bit, but outright snark at characters is not the norm. But this is not a normal Christmas book either. Oh it's a Christmas story, it's full of holiday stuff; shopping, decorating and reminiscing. And it takes place in the month leading up to Christmas , but that's about where the similarities end. Really it the story of two guys falling completely and totally, life changingly, in love. It is incredibly fresh and modern, and yet timeless at the same time. A true contemporary holiday story. Its the grinch and the happiest elf ever, it's a May/Sept, friends to lovers , you name it story. and it sucked me right in. I loved it.
Regret Me Not is not a typical Amy Lane story either, no heavy angst or drama tugging at the heart strings. It is an in your face kind of story. Christmas Kitsch was an absolute tear jerker in comparison, but the bones are similar. Maybe that is why I fell right into the story, and gobbled it up in one sitting. Maybe its the magic that happens when a good writer has an excellent story to tell, and creates amazing guys to tell it with. I can't explain why this book so awesome, I can only say it was.
As you can tell by my dribbling I am still wrapped up in the story, I need to digest it more before re reading it, but I will re read it soon. And I will be tapping my fingers impatiently for the promised more.
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