Connor is overjoyed that his high school sweetheart, Reg, has returned home after mysteriously disappearing. Can they reawaken the passion they once shared or will shadowy secrets tear them apart?
Reg and Connor had dated way back in high school. In a town of only 300 people, being the only gay boys in school was both a blessing and a curse. Reg went on to college, while Connor stayed behind to look after his father's farm.
Five years later, Reg returns. Nobody has heard much from him over the years, even his parents relied on once-weekly calls. Shrouded in mystery, he settles into an apartment above the local bank, never leaving his room. Nobody is sure what to make of this. Rumors begin to spread. Connor wants to actually know, but it seems his high school sweetheart wants nothing to do with him anymore.
Reg begins driving back and forth, leaving the town at random times of the day and returning without a word. Finally, he asks Connor out on a date, and Connor agrees. Even then, Reg remains silent and secretive about what is going on when he leaves the town. He has even suggested that perhaps he will have to leave again some time and may not return. Connor is worried about his friend and lover, and becomes ever more determined to find out what the problem is.
As Connor unearths layer after layer of secrets, crimes and conspiracies in their quiet little town, he begins to realize that Reg may be in grave danger, and that he is putting himself directly in its path. Can he help Reg? Can he save himself? Or is it now too late for both of them?
Please Note: This book contains adult language & steamy adult activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approx. 60,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger". Themes include: Thriller, Young Love, First Time, Mystery, Small town
Jerry Cole is a gay author who lives in California & enjoys writing love stories. Jerry has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings & on weekends. Jerry started writing gay romance stories several years ago, but initially just for his own entertainment & occasionally sharing stories with his friends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” & took up writing gay romance full time. When he’s not writing steamy M/M romance he enjoys globetrotting, watching movies with family and friends, working out, & being dragged down the road by his two Great Danes.
Disappointing plot, with no substantive adherence to protocol, FBI or other Federal agency practices. Isn't it flimsy to expect hardcore criminals to not be able to locate them when they have essentially been relocated practically as their old selves? No way. They would be found in days if the gang was even as dangerous as they were made out to be. Dialogue continues to be a weakness for this writer - don't make them all sound/ talk the same way.
‘It was essential for both young men to be present, and for both their families to be protected.’
California author Jerry Cole is a gay author who has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings and on weekends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” and took up writing gay romance full time. His publications are now in the range of 63! When he’s not writing steamy M/M romance he enjoys globetrotting, watching movies with family and friends, and working out.
One of the many reasons Jerry Cole is at the top of the list in MM romances is that in addition to writing very fine gay romances, he also addresses important social issues, relationship challenges, sexual identity ambiguity, and professions that rarely are included in books of the genre. In this excellent book Jerry creates a stunning mystery that adds to the erotic flavor of this fine ‘years of separation/different lifestyles’ theme and the novel works very well.
The above is one of the many reasons Jerry’s gift at composing romances works so well – he is very character driven: we know the men he magnetizes so that the erotica is more a bonus than a raison d’être.
The plot is well described – ‘Connor is overjoyed that his high school sweetheart, Reg, has returned home after mysteriously disappearing. Can they reawaken the passion they once shared or will shadowy secrets tear them apart? Reg and Connor had dated way back in high school. In a town of only 300 people, being the only gay boys in school was both a blessing and a curse. Reg went on to college, while Connor stayed behind to look after his father's farm. Five years later, Reg returns. Nobody has heard much from him over the years, even his parents relied on once-weekly calls. Shrouded in mystery, he settles into an apartment above the local bank, never leaving his room. Nobody is sure what to make of this. Rumors begin to spread. Connor wants to actually know, but it seems his high school sweetheart wants nothing to do with him anymore. Reg begins driving back and forth, leaving the town at random times of the day and returning without a word. Finally, he asks Connor out on a date, and Connor agrees. Even then, Reg remains silent and secretive about what is going on when he leaves the town. He has even suggested that perhaps he will have to leave again some time and may not return. Connor is worried about his friend and lover, and becomes ever more determined to find out what the problem is. As Connor unearths layer after layer of secrets, crimes and conspiracies in their quiet little town, he begins to realize that Reg may be in grave danger, and that he is putting himself directly in its path. Can he help Reg? Can he save himself? Or is it now too late for both of them?’. This is a very strong sample of one of our finest gay romance writers of the day.
Reckless Heart is a story of two completely different men who grew up together in a small town. Connor is a farm boy who is a confident, homebody while Reg is shy and dreams of making it big and moving away. This is a short story filled with action, suspense, heartbreak, heat and love. Reg comes back to town after moving away to college and Connor expects him to welcome his back with open arms. When Reg rejects Connor at first, Connor believes Reg has changed but as he delves deeper into what Reg has done in the past 5 years, he ends up getting more than he bargains for. This story creates a love that will not quit and will withstand anything, even murder attempts. If you're looking for a steamy story between two men with a mystery twist to it, definitely read this! I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
The first part of the story Reg comes back to his home town. His boyfriend from high school, Connor had stayed behind to help on his parent’s farm and as time went by the two had stop communicating by phone.
Connor’s happy Reg’s back and goes to visit him and runs into him in the hardware store. It wasn’t the sort of meet and greet he had expected from his once sly boyfriend, in fact, Reg is more cool, distance and plain rude to his friend. But Connor decides to go to his apartment anyway and find out why his friend had changed so much.
The two ended up having sex and after Connor gets frustrated by Reg not explaining himself as to what has happened to him. Reg flat out tells Connor to stay out of his business, that it’s none of Connor’s busy in intrude on his personally. Connor’s stubborn streak continues throughout the whole first part of the book trying to find out what trouble his friend has gotten into.
For myself I didn’t feel much between the two MCs; they said the words but I never felt it. Kind of that “told me not show me” sort of thing. Though when I finally found out the problem then I felt more connection between the MCs. Reg was in a whole lot of trouble that didn’t go away easily. To me more the FBI sort of trouble, but it seemed a sheriff’s office took care of most of Reg’s visits to his precinct.
This trouble also involved both the MCs families and there was a lot of protection that needed to take place. I don’t want to ruin the book for anyone so I not going to go into detail. [Spoiler?] The wonderful part Reg’s old personality starts to come back and there is a HEA ending.
All in all, I liked the book and would recommend it, because these are just my opinions and another reader may see and feel things differently. Buy it I think most would like it. I read a complimentary Advance Reader Copy of this book and I am leaving an honest and unbiased review.
This to me was a departure from Jerry Cole's usual stories (or at least the ones that I have read to date), not my favorite.
Why? Conor and good sound young gay man, the only gay in the village, is madly in love with Reg who escaped from backwater America and returns 5 years later under strange circumstances. the solidness of Connor and yet a slight bit dim as he is very slow in realising that there is more to what is going on in Reg life than meets the eye. has to be spealt out in big letters. the FBI, traffickers, bomb attempts, run off the road and still Connor does not get it. and then they are all in hiding. the odd behaviour of Reg and way he treats Connor and his family, even taking into account his circumstances, does not paint a good picture on him. even after all he has experienced away he does not seem to appreciate what he has..
HEA or are they - all in hiding - the chopping back to past stories was confusing initially but I got it at the end. However the affect of their actions on the two sets of parents and what they have had to give up for two horny spoilt boys turned men leaves me hard to like them as people.
however as in true JC fashion, he pulls it off at the end his style of writing is good. he has pulled me into their story.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review
This book keeps you guessing throughout how the characters are going to end up. It is cleverly written, spanning Connor and Reg’s relationship through their first meeting until the present day.
Jerry Cole brings to life a small town in America and gives a great twist to the usual stereotypical people who live there.
I highly recommend this book and loved the characters and their story. A gripping book that kept me on the edge of my seat guessing what is going to happen. I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.
You start this book and you can not put it down. The more you read the more mysterious the story gets. When Reg comes back to his small hometown he does not want to see or talk to his former lover Connor or to his parents, claiming they would be in danger if they know what is going on with him. As the story progresses you find out why. The book keeps you guessing throughout as to what is going on with Greg and the mystery is unreveled bit by bit up to the HEA. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
This was an intense story full of angst, fear, threats of violence and secrets. Connor helps his parents with the family farm and plans on taking over for them since they are getting old. The only thing missing is love and that's a bust until his old school love, Reg, comes back to town. Things are different though and Reg is scared. Connor doesn't know what is going on but he plans on keeping connor and keeping him safe. Can he do or are the forces surrounding Reg going to keep them apart?
When the story started I could not stand Reg. He came off as a stuck up prick. Conner seemed like a sweet country boy who thought of his parents and the family farm before himself. What a different way to take the story. Intrigue and action turned out well. I do think it is sad that the farm his parents have tried to keep going for generations didn't matter once they all had to go into witness protection.
I found this story to be what I expected. An interesting story with decent characters and a bit of a mystery. The men are worth reading about. They have an interesting past and they are lucky to be able to meet again after years apart. I liked the regrowth of the passion that the men were lucky to experience. All in all a very good read.
this was a good story but at times i got really confused.. so much is going on and things change so often. but the characters are fun and likable and the storyline was amazing so i really liked it