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Graves Brothers #1
Eyes Wide Open
Jason’s been in love with Spencer for most of his life, yet there he is, organizing Spencer’s bachelor party because Spencer’s getting married—and not to him.
Spencer wished he could marry Jason instead of Lydia. He’s loved his best friend for years, but he needs to do the best for his family and their vineyard. Knowing he’s doing the right thing doesn’t make it easy, though.
Jason’s family pushes him to confess his feelings to Spencer, and he wants nothing more, but he’s afraid Spencer will run the other way and that their friendship won’t resist the revelation. But when Spencer gets drunk during his bachelor weekend in New York and tells Jason he loves him, everything changes—or that’s what Jason thinks.
Jason doesn’t want to be the other man, and Spencer doesn’t want him to be. That means Spencer has a choice to make. Will he marry Lydia and help his family, or will he finally give in and choose Jason?
Spencer wished he could marry Jason instead of Lydia. He’s loved his best friend for years, but he needs to do the best for his family and their vineyard. Knowing he’s doing the right thing doesn’t make it easy, though.
Jason’s family pushes him to confess his feelings to Spencer, and he wants nothing more, but he’s afraid Spencer will run the other way and that their friendship won’t resist the revelation. But when Spencer gets drunk during his bachelor weekend in New York and tells Jason he loves him, everything changes—or that’s what Jason thinks.
Jason doesn’t want to be the other man, and Spencer doesn’t want him to be. That means Spencer has a choice to make. Will he marry Lydia and help his family, or will he finally give in and choose Jason?
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2018
6 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 25, 2018
Friends to lovers is usually one of my favourite tropes but for some reason, this one was just missing the spark that would have made it a great story instead of an okay one.
I'll also be brutally honest and admit that off page sex really annoys me in a romance book. I don't necessarily expect a full on erotic porn scene but I do like to read about the couple's first time and see an emotional connection alongside a physical one on page. I don't want a fade to black and a line that says they've been screwing like rabbits off screen.
It made an interesting story involving last minute love confessions and potential family disasters all feel a bit flat, which is a shame as the narrative had started off promising.
I will give props to the author for the good characters and setting, I liked the closeness of Jason's family and the contrast with Spencer's rotten mother. Spencer annoyed me for a lot of the book and I have to say, or don't think either MC read like they were in their 30s.
Overall this wasn't a bad read though and the sneak peek at book two gives me hope for a continually improving series.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I'll also be brutally honest and admit that off page sex really annoys me in a romance book. I don't necessarily expect a full on erotic porn scene but I do like to read about the couple's first time and see an emotional connection alongside a physical one on page. I don't want a fade to black and a line that says they've been screwing like rabbits off screen.
It made an interesting story involving last minute love confessions and potential family disasters all feel a bit flat, which is a shame as the narrative had started off promising.
I will give props to the author for the good characters and setting, I liked the closeness of Jason's family and the contrast with Spencer's rotten mother. Spencer annoyed me for a lot of the book and I have to say, or don't think either MC read like they were in their 30s.
Overall this wasn't a bad read though and the sneak peek at book two gives me hope for a continually improving series.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
April 8, 2018
3.5 Stars
Jason and Spencer have been best friends for years, in spite of the atrociousness of Spencer’s mother. The family vineyard is all that matters. Well, that and keeping Spencer under Mom’s thumb, doing exactly what she wants him to do. What she wants right now is for him to marry Lydia, the daughter of a soon-to-be investor in the vineyard. Despite Spencer’s lack of interest in marrying anyone female, he’s going along with it because it’s his mother and that’s what he does to keep the peace and try to make his family proud. His father isn’t as in his face, mainly because his father interacts hardly at all.
What Spencer does have is Jason and the amazing supportive of Jason’s large family. A family who love and care about their members for who they are, getting involved sure but with only each person’s happiness in mind. So it goes that Jason’s family thinks instead of being best man for Spencer’s wedding to Lydia, he should let Spencer know he’s in love with him and see what happens. They believe Spencer loves Jason back and all will be well.
Of course, things are never that simple, even after a personalized bachelor weekend in New York, going to Madison Square Garden and Central Park ends up with the two of them getting together, only to return to the same plan of marrying Lydia. Jason’s brother, Kenny, is a favorite of mine now, and he tried to get Spencer to not be stupid. “I told him he shouldn’t marry Lydia because he’s in love with you and you’re in love with him.” And he understands the why of it, that Spencer tries to make everyone happy except himself. I got Kenny’s frustration – Spencer is 33! It’s time to let go of Mommy Dearest’s expectations.
It got frustrating at time watching Spencer put up with amounts to emotional abuse from his mother and watch his father remain silent about it. Spencer “…couldn’t disappoint her the way he would if he chose Jason.” She has no interest in what Spencer wants or needs, just herself. So frustrating!
I appreciated that Lydia wasn’t portrayed as a bad person at all. She really is another one sort of doing something to please her parents (in her case, her father) although it wasn’t anything like Spencer’s mother. Jason’s family were interesting supporting characters, and in the case of Kenny especially, endearing. Jason’s mom is as far from Spencer’s mom as could be, thank heavens. I was pulling for Spencer to get his head out of the ground before it was too late. I also liked that mother didn’t magically become kind or motherly, no matter what Spencer did because to me that would have felt false. It was an interesting story with some exasperating moments!
Cover art: The cover models appeared the right ages for Jason and Spencer and could have been them. I had a different vision for the vineyard, if only because the house seems so welcoming and inviting and I didn’t picture those parents living there.
Jason and Spencer have been best friends for years, in spite of the atrociousness of Spencer’s mother. The family vineyard is all that matters. Well, that and keeping Spencer under Mom’s thumb, doing exactly what she wants him to do. What she wants right now is for him to marry Lydia, the daughter of a soon-to-be investor in the vineyard. Despite Spencer’s lack of interest in marrying anyone female, he’s going along with it because it’s his mother and that’s what he does to keep the peace and try to make his family proud. His father isn’t as in his face, mainly because his father interacts hardly at all.
What Spencer does have is Jason and the amazing supportive of Jason’s large family. A family who love and care about their members for who they are, getting involved sure but with only each person’s happiness in mind. So it goes that Jason’s family thinks instead of being best man for Spencer’s wedding to Lydia, he should let Spencer know he’s in love with him and see what happens. They believe Spencer loves Jason back and all will be well.
Of course, things are never that simple, even after a personalized bachelor weekend in New York, going to Madison Square Garden and Central Park ends up with the two of them getting together, only to return to the same plan of marrying Lydia. Jason’s brother, Kenny, is a favorite of mine now, and he tried to get Spencer to not be stupid. “I told him he shouldn’t marry Lydia because he’s in love with you and you’re in love with him.” And he understands the why of it, that Spencer tries to make everyone happy except himself. I got Kenny’s frustration – Spencer is 33! It’s time to let go of Mommy Dearest’s expectations.
It got frustrating at time watching Spencer put up with amounts to emotional abuse from his mother and watch his father remain silent about it. Spencer “…couldn’t disappoint her the way he would if he chose Jason.” She has no interest in what Spencer wants or needs, just herself. So frustrating!
I appreciated that Lydia wasn’t portrayed as a bad person at all. She really is another one sort of doing something to please her parents (in her case, her father) although it wasn’t anything like Spencer’s mother. Jason’s family were interesting supporting characters, and in the case of Kenny especially, endearing. Jason’s mom is as far from Spencer’s mom as could be, thank heavens. I was pulling for Spencer to get his head out of the ground before it was too late. I also liked that mother didn’t magically become kind or motherly, no matter what Spencer did because to me that would have felt false. It was an interesting story with some exasperating moments!
Cover art: The cover models appeared the right ages for Jason and Spencer and could have been them. I had a different vision for the vineyard, if only because the house seems so welcoming and inviting and I didn’t picture those parents living there.
July 29, 2018
2.5 stars
April 7, 2018
When the time came for Jason to organize his best friend's bachelor party, he did so with a heavy but determined heart despite how his own was breaking. Spencer was determined to go through with the wedding to please his mother despite his heart belonging to another. When the bachelor weekend is over, truths will be revealed but will hearts be broken or fulfilled? Can Jason's family help the men see sense before its too late?
Not everyone enjoys alternating POV stories but I personally love them, getting to see the inner monologue and turmoil of both characters helps me to connect with them which only enhances the journey. The settings in Eyes Wide Open are beautifully written and the characters, both main and secondary, are interesting and well written. Did Jason and Spencer sometimes read younger than their 30s? Yes. But lets be honest, when our lives are in quandary, when the choice we have to make can be life altering not only for ourselves but those closest to us we all can act out of whack. So the fact that Jason and Spencer seem to behave more in their mid-20s instead of early 30s is not so unexpected and it certainly was not a downer for me.
As for Jason's brothers, I loved them. I am an only child as is my dad and Mom only had one brother who wasn't around much so I can't say how accurate their relationship is but I can definitely imagine its pretty spot on in the meshing of teasing and protective behavior. Don't even get me started on Spencer's mother, all I'll say is she gets no sympathy or empathy from me.
I should add that if you really need on-page sex than this probably isn't a tale for you. I'm not saying I don't like the on-page stuff because I do but fade-to-black scenes don't bother me either and certainly are not a turn-off when the story is as well written as Eyes is, but I thought I should mention it for those who find it a deal breaker.
VM Sanford is a new author to me and as always in that case I went in with a heart full of anticipation and an open but question-filled mind. Will this be great? Will this be good? Will this be okay? Will this suck? Well, Eyes Wide Open definitely did not suck, it was awesome and I look forward to the next entry in the Graves Brothers series.
Not everyone enjoys alternating POV stories but I personally love them, getting to see the inner monologue and turmoil of both characters helps me to connect with them which only enhances the journey. The settings in Eyes Wide Open are beautifully written and the characters, both main and secondary, are interesting and well written. Did Jason and Spencer sometimes read younger than their 30s? Yes. But lets be honest, when our lives are in quandary, when the choice we have to make can be life altering not only for ourselves but those closest to us we all can act out of whack. So the fact that Jason and Spencer seem to behave more in their mid-20s instead of early 30s is not so unexpected and it certainly was not a downer for me.
As for Jason's brothers, I loved them. I am an only child as is my dad and Mom only had one brother who wasn't around much so I can't say how accurate their relationship is but I can definitely imagine its pretty spot on in the meshing of teasing and protective behavior. Don't even get me started on Spencer's mother, all I'll say is she gets no sympathy or empathy from me.
I should add that if you really need on-page sex than this probably isn't a tale for you. I'm not saying I don't like the on-page stuff because I do but fade-to-black scenes don't bother me either and certainly are not a turn-off when the story is as well written as Eyes is, but I thought I should mention it for those who find it a deal breaker.
VM Sanford is a new author to me and as always in that case I went in with a heart full of anticipation and an open but question-filled mind. Will this be great? Will this be good? Will this be okay? Will this suck? Well, Eyes Wide Open definitely did not suck, it was awesome and I look forward to the next entry in the Graves Brothers series.
April 2, 2018
This is the first time I have read anything by this Author, I am happy to say it won’t be the last. I was enraptured by this story. I’m so happy that it’s book one of a series. A tale of true friendship and love with an overbearing Mother that I will never warm to never mind become to like.
Spencer is the one with the overbearing Mother. God, I think overbearing is too tame of a word for her. She has ruled his life and continues to do so even though he is a grown man.
I kept shouting out at the pages ‘for the love of god tell her to shut up’. I could understand to an extent that he didn’t want to hurt his family and he felt compelled to help, but seriously enough is enough.
Spencer was due to be married to the woman his Mother thought would be an ideal partner. NICE! Totally filled with sarcasm for this woman. Yet, he was in love with someone else. Not just someone who he met recently, no his best friend.
His lifelong friend, Jason has the completely opposite lifestyle to Spencer. He has such a loving family, lives his life the way he wants and is also in love with Spencer. Both these guys are in denial or scared they will lose the other. It’s heartbreaking to read at the time, but also it fills you up with love.
While Jason is out of the closet, Spencer is so far in the back it’s going to take some getting him out. I felt for all who were involved in this story with the exception of Spencer’s Mother.
I can’t wait to read more in the Graves Brothers Series. Jason’s brother, Kenneth’s story is next to release, and I’ll be one clicking Kenny’s book as soon as it’s LIVE!
Spencer is the one with the overbearing Mother. God, I think overbearing is too tame of a word for her. She has ruled his life and continues to do so even though he is a grown man.
I kept shouting out at the pages ‘for the love of god tell her to shut up’. I could understand to an extent that he didn’t want to hurt his family and he felt compelled to help, but seriously enough is enough.
Spencer was due to be married to the woman his Mother thought would be an ideal partner. NICE! Totally filled with sarcasm for this woman. Yet, he was in love with someone else. Not just someone who he met recently, no his best friend.
His lifelong friend, Jason has the completely opposite lifestyle to Spencer. He has such a loving family, lives his life the way he wants and is also in love with Spencer. Both these guys are in denial or scared they will lose the other. It’s heartbreaking to read at the time, but also it fills you up with love.
While Jason is out of the closet, Spencer is so far in the back it’s going to take some getting him out. I felt for all who were involved in this story with the exception of Spencer’s Mother.
I can’t wait to read more in the Graves Brothers Series. Jason’s brother, Kenneth’s story is next to release, and I’ll be one clicking Kenny’s book as soon as it’s LIVE!
April 2, 2018
Jason is in love with Spenser, and Spenser is in love with Jason, but is getting married to Lydia.
Neither is aware of the others feeling, Jason is gay, he doesn't know what Spenser is.
Jason's brothers join them for a bachelor party. All the brothers know that they are in love with each other and encourage them in various ways to tell the other how they really feel. Jason winds up putting a very drunk Spenser to bed. Spenser confesses his feelings and Jason while elated, won't allow anything to happen. Spenser feels locked into the wedding because of his mother, the family business, and he doesn't want to hurt Lydia. Jason hopes that Spenser will back out, but the wedding day approaches and he loses hope.
This is a low heat book which I have no issues with. I was inclined to give it a 3.5 star rating, but I really liked Jason's brothers. They made it entertaining and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Neither is aware of the others feeling, Jason is gay, he doesn't know what Spenser is.
Jason's brothers join them for a bachelor party. All the brothers know that they are in love with each other and encourage them in various ways to tell the other how they really feel. Jason winds up putting a very drunk Spenser to bed. Spenser confesses his feelings and Jason while elated, won't allow anything to happen. Spenser feels locked into the wedding because of his mother, the family business, and he doesn't want to hurt Lydia. Jason hopes that Spenser will back out, but the wedding day approaches and he loses hope.
This is a low heat book which I have no issues with. I was inclined to give it a 3.5 star rating, but I really liked Jason's brothers. They made it entertaining and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
March 29, 2018
3.5 STARS
I liked the story and I sure liked the author's narrative. I am a huge fan of friends to lovers stories but this one was a bit harder to believe.
The main characters were ok and written fairly well but together they are just not relatable. I had a hard time believing some of the stuff going on. This author must also learn in romance books if there is sex it does not have to be explicit but should at least give us a little more then what was provided here. The author was trying to get there story out and I was with him until it became a little all over the place chaotic.
I had a quick look at the sneek preview and I am hoping that this series will develop because I see so much potential that I am rooting for the author and the characters.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review for Rockstar Book Muse
I liked the story and I sure liked the author's narrative. I am a huge fan of friends to lovers stories but this one was a bit harder to believe.
The main characters were ok and written fairly well but together they are just not relatable. I had a hard time believing some of the stuff going on. This author must also learn in romance books if there is sex it does not have to be explicit but should at least give us a little more then what was provided here. The author was trying to get there story out and I was with him until it became a little all over the place chaotic.
I had a quick look at the sneek preview and I am hoping that this series will develop because I see so much potential that I am rooting for the author and the characters.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review for Rockstar Book Muse
April 2, 2018
i enjoyed these characters and the plot of this story.. i did feel like it was everywhere and at times it was very distracting but overall i liked this story.. it was a good and interesting topic and the emotions were real.
April 17, 2018
★★★★
A great friends-to-lovers story.
Jason and Spencer have been best friends since they were six years old. They have always been joined at the hip, do everything together and love nothing more than spending time in each others company. Unknown to the other, each of them have been in love with the other for as long as they can remember but neither have done anything about it for fear of loosing each other and the friendship they have and in Spencer's case his Mother and Father.
Now, just weeks away from Spencer's wedding to a women he doesn't love things start to crumble around them. Jason knowing Spencer is stressed suggests going on a bachelor weekend to New York and two of his brothers tag along too. What happens in New York will change the course of their life forever.
This book was really great, it kept me hooked from the beginning. Although a predictable storyline, I stayed rooted to the story and read the book in one sitting. I was cheering this couple on, they were both so sweet and deserved all the happiness they they ended up with. Spencer's mother is a nasty piece of work and I was glad to see him finally get out of the toxic relationship that they shared.
A sweet, heartwarming quick read at only 154 pages but that will keep you entertained and cheering them on all the way through. I love all the secondary characters and can't for them to get their own stories.
Reviewed by Sarah from Alpha Book Club
A great friends-to-lovers story.
Jason and Spencer have been best friends since they were six years old. They have always been joined at the hip, do everything together and love nothing more than spending time in each others company. Unknown to the other, each of them have been in love with the other for as long as they can remember but neither have done anything about it for fear of loosing each other and the friendship they have and in Spencer's case his Mother and Father.
Now, just weeks away from Spencer's wedding to a women he doesn't love things start to crumble around them. Jason knowing Spencer is stressed suggests going on a bachelor weekend to New York and two of his brothers tag along too. What happens in New York will change the course of their life forever.
This book was really great, it kept me hooked from the beginning. Although a predictable storyline, I stayed rooted to the story and read the book in one sitting. I was cheering this couple on, they were both so sweet and deserved all the happiness they they ended up with. Spencer's mother is a nasty piece of work and I was glad to see him finally get out of the toxic relationship that they shared.
A sweet, heartwarming quick read at only 154 pages but that will keep you entertained and cheering them on all the way through. I love all the secondary characters and can't for them to get their own stories.
Reviewed by Sarah from Alpha Book Club
September 18, 2022
3.5 stars
June 13, 2018
Eyes Wide Open, is my first book by this author. I liked the storyline, but I thought it lacked depth and character understanding.
Eyes Wide Open had some cute scenes, and I'm ok with books without explicit bedroom scenes...but it could at least contained a few more words about what they where about to do...
It was ok written, but I didn't care for either of the characters. But the preview for the next book seems promising.
-Stina, A Woman & Her Books.
Eyes Wide Open had some cute scenes, and I'm ok with books without explicit bedroom scenes...but it could at least contained a few more words about what they where about to do...
It was ok written, but I didn't care for either of the characters. But the preview for the next book seems promising.
-Stina, A Woman & Her Books.
April 18, 2018
2,5 heart review by Louisa
Friends to lovers is a favourite trope of mine. It has all the good things, like two people have known each other for ages, family involvement, understanding, the shock of discovery that both men love each other, etc. etc. etc.. But Eyes Wide Open falls flat on these things, it just doesn’t carry the spark you would expect.
Jason is openly gay and Spencer is secretly bisexual. Spencer’s mother is evil, but he loves her. Spencer is afraid he will lose his family and the investment with the vineyard if he breaks up with Lydia. Spencer likes Lydia but doesn’t want to marry her, but he feels trapped. And if you don’t remember these facts, don’t worry, because the author has very helpfully told the reader the same things over and over again. I actually think the book would have been only half as long if the above things were only mentioned once or twice.
I do feel that this story could have used some more beta reading and editing. It has a really good concept, but it is so hard to get attached to the characters and the story. I really went into this book expecting to love it, it has so many things I like in a book – family dynamics, long term friends, complicated personal relationships and not to mention its set between a vineyard and construction sites.
The person I liked the most was Kenny, who appears to be the main character in book 2, so hopefully that will be a good read. Kenny was a bit of a smart ass (which I like) and he made things feel nice and real. But Spencer and Jason were flat for me. And I didn’t feel any spark, which may have been because of the fade to black sex scene.
The thing I like most about this book is the cover and Jason’s mum. Both I think were really good and made me want to keep reading.
Overall, it is an easy read, and would be good with a glass of wine. Just don’t go in hoping for lots of plot development or character development.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Friends to lovers is a favourite trope of mine. It has all the good things, like two people have known each other for ages, family involvement, understanding, the shock of discovery that both men love each other, etc. etc. etc.. But Eyes Wide Open falls flat on these things, it just doesn’t carry the spark you would expect.
Jason is openly gay and Spencer is secretly bisexual. Spencer’s mother is evil, but he loves her. Spencer is afraid he will lose his family and the investment with the vineyard if he breaks up with Lydia. Spencer likes Lydia but doesn’t want to marry her, but he feels trapped. And if you don’t remember these facts, don’t worry, because the author has very helpfully told the reader the same things over and over again. I actually think the book would have been only half as long if the above things were only mentioned once or twice.
I do feel that this story could have used some more beta reading and editing. It has a really good concept, but it is so hard to get attached to the characters and the story. I really went into this book expecting to love it, it has so many things I like in a book – family dynamics, long term friends, complicated personal relationships and not to mention its set between a vineyard and construction sites.
The person I liked the most was Kenny, who appears to be the main character in book 2, so hopefully that will be a good read. Kenny was a bit of a smart ass (which I like) and he made things feel nice and real. But Spencer and Jason were flat for me. And I didn’t feel any spark, which may have been because of the fade to black sex scene.
The thing I like most about this book is the cover and Jason’s mum. Both I think were really good and made me want to keep reading.
Overall, it is an easy read, and would be good with a glass of wine. Just don’t go in hoping for lots of plot development or character development.
This book was provided for free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
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