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Geek Life #3
A Beautiful Disaster
Geek Book Three
When best friends Brenden and Dakota launch the biggest comics and pop-culture convention of their careers, they finally realize what everyone around them already they’ve been in love for years.
Now what are they going to do about it?
Meticulously organized Brenden Wade and easygoing Dakota Nye turned their love of geek culture into a business, running conventions all over the Chesapeake Bay area. Now the weight of their pasts is threatening not only their friendship but their dream. Brenden fears losing his foster family when his secrets come out, and though the last thing Dakota wants is to hurt his plus one, he doesn’t know if he’s capable of settling down.
One night of passion challenges both men’s preconceptions and forces them to evaluate what they want from the future. They’re both scared, and though they’ve always been able to figure out anything together, hearts are on the line. Will taking a chance on romance lead to a beautiful disaster, or just a disaster?
When best friends Brenden and Dakota launch the biggest comics and pop-culture convention of their careers, they finally realize what everyone around them already they’ve been in love for years.
Now what are they going to do about it?
Meticulously organized Brenden Wade and easygoing Dakota Nye turned their love of geek culture into a business, running conventions all over the Chesapeake Bay area. Now the weight of their pasts is threatening not only their friendship but their dream. Brenden fears losing his foster family when his secrets come out, and though the last thing Dakota wants is to hurt his plus one, he doesn’t know if he’s capable of settling down.
One night of passion challenges both men’s preconceptions and forces them to evaluate what they want from the future. They’re both scared, and though they’ve always been able to figure out anything together, hearts are on the line. Will taking a chance on romance lead to a beautiful disaster, or just a disaster?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2019
1 person is currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Marguerite Labbe
39 books128 followersMarguerite has been accused of being eccentric and a shade neurotic, both of which she freely admits to, but her muse has OCD tendencies, so who can blame her? Her husband and son do an excellent job keeping her toeing the line, though. Together with her co-author Fae Sutherland, Marguerite has found a shared passion for beautiful men with smart mouths.
When she's not working hard on writing new material and editing completed work, she spends her time reading novels of all genres, enjoying role-playing games with her equally nutty friends, and trying to plot practical jokes against her son and husband. Her son is learning the tricks too quickly and likes to retaliate. You'd think she'd learn.
When she's not working hard on writing new material and editing completed work, she spends her time reading novels of all genres, enjoying role-playing games with her equally nutty friends, and trying to plot practical jokes against her son and husband. Her son is learning the tricks too quickly and likes to retaliate. You'd think she'd learn.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 28, 2019
Marguerite Labbe’s A Beautiful Disaster is the third book in her The Geek Life series. While this book stands on its own I’m glad I read the first two. It’s interesting getting to know Brenden and Dakota through their friends’ eyes before we get their story. Plus there are several vignettes where we catch up with characters from the first two novels and see them get their happily-ever-afters.
Foster brothers Brenden and Dakota have a lot of damage to overcome. Learning to move on from past hurts, open up, and give love a chance is a continual battle. The men agree that their best course is to ‘live in the moment’, but that’s easier said than done.
Sharing so many experiences over the years, these men have a deep and complex bond. Overcoming obstacles which would spoil the story to reveal them here, Brenden and Dakota need to figure out how to move forward. Friends, lovers, a bit of both? You’ll have to read the story to find out.
I love how natural the characters are in The Geek Life series. These are real, imperfect people who make mistakes and get emotional. The dynamic is compelling within this group of friends due to the honest and upfront way they interact. Best of all, these original and unpredictable stories held my attention the whole way through.
So even though I’m not a “geek”, and I know practically nothing about comics and cons and cosplay, Ms. Labbe wrote three very original novels which I thoroughly enjoyed.
a copy of A Beautiful Disaster was provided to me through the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love program for the purpose of my review
Foster brothers Brenden and Dakota have a lot of damage to overcome. Learning to move on from past hurts, open up, and give love a chance is a continual battle. The men agree that their best course is to ‘live in the moment’, but that’s easier said than done.
Sharing so many experiences over the years, these men have a deep and complex bond. Overcoming obstacles which would spoil the story to reveal them here, Brenden and Dakota need to figure out how to move forward. Friends, lovers, a bit of both? You’ll have to read the story to find out.
I love how natural the characters are in The Geek Life series. These are real, imperfect people who make mistakes and get emotional. The dynamic is compelling within this group of friends due to the honest and upfront way they interact. Best of all, these original and unpredictable stories held my attention the whole way through.
So even though I’m not a “geek”, and I know practically nothing about comics and cons and cosplay, Ms. Labbe wrote three very original novels which I thoroughly enjoyed.
a copy of A Beautiful Disaster was provided to me through the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love program for the purpose of my review
August 13, 2019
This is the third book in the Geek Life series, focusing on Brenden Wade and Dakota Nye, who are business partners/organizers of many a convention, and some other things. We met them in the previous books, which reminds me - while this could in theory be read as a standalone book, I don't recommend you do. Read the first two as well, in that order, because the timeline starts with Book 1 and continues into the 2nd and this 3rd one here.
Brenden and Dakota have long been friends, like brothers. Both of them are part of the same family, Dakota's aunt and uncle, who adopted him, and then also took in Brenden when he needed help. Brenden has never actually looked at Dakota as a brother, but he made a promise to his "adoptive" mom to not pursue Dakota, when she noticed how he was looking at him.
They're a bit "opposites attract", with Brenden really organized and always prepared and Dakota more impulsive and laissez-faire, mostly running things by the seat of his pants. Which drives Brenden crazy on occasion; on the other hand, Dakota feels that Brenden needs to lighten up a bit, so he delights in pushing Brenden's buttons. With the biggest con they've ever planned coming up, Dakota has moved back in with Brenden so they can combine efforts to ensure the con goes off without a hitch.
Their friends have long figured out that the two of them are in love, even if neither Brenden nor Dakota actually want to admit this. Except Dakota might have had enough of beating around the bush, and now that they're living together again, he's going to jump right in and challenge Brenden. And while they might drive each other up the wall, they firmly have each other's back against anyone on the outside.
This book is angstier than the first two. Meticulous, uptight Brenden is afraid that if he gives in to Dakota and takes what he's been wanting, he will lose his family when it inevitably ends, since Dakota does not like to be tied down. He hides his feelings behind long-established maneuvers, but when a little birdie named Felipe drops a bombshell on Dakota, the latter opens his eyes and for the first time actually sees what Brenden has been hiding.
And thus Operation Seduce Brenden begins. Their long-building UST explodes in brilliant fireworks at one of the cons, where they have to share a hotel room, and nothing will ever be the same.
I liked both characters, even if the two steps forward, one step back dance drove me batty. I could appreciate that Brenden was hesitant to move forward, afraid to disappoint or upset his "adoptive" mother, and scared that after their amazing night of passion he will lose everything he's ever wanted. Dakota also grows in this book - he's intuitive, and he really thinks about whether he should go after Brenden, whether he can stick with one guy and allow himself to be tied down. He realizes that he cannot toy with Brenden's heart so he is careful to show him that he's serious and begins to actively woo him.
Their romance is set against a backdrop of geeky life, with multiple cons they're either organizing or attending, and the author either participates in this life or has done extensive research as to what goes on behind the scenes, as all of those scenes felt realistic and rang true.
There are many emotional moments that brought tears to my eyes, and I really loved that this book wasn't just about their romance but also about their family relationships, and how they navigated the eventual coming-out.
I quite enjoyed this book, and I think you will too. Just do yourself a favor and read all three of them, in the order they were published.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
Brenden and Dakota have long been friends, like brothers. Both of them are part of the same family, Dakota's aunt and uncle, who adopted him, and then also took in Brenden when he needed help. Brenden has never actually looked at Dakota as a brother, but he made a promise to his "adoptive" mom to not pursue Dakota, when she noticed how he was looking at him.
They're a bit "opposites attract", with Brenden really organized and always prepared and Dakota more impulsive and laissez-faire, mostly running things by the seat of his pants. Which drives Brenden crazy on occasion; on the other hand, Dakota feels that Brenden needs to lighten up a bit, so he delights in pushing Brenden's buttons. With the biggest con they've ever planned coming up, Dakota has moved back in with Brenden so they can combine efforts to ensure the con goes off without a hitch.
Their friends have long figured out that the two of them are in love, even if neither Brenden nor Dakota actually want to admit this. Except Dakota might have had enough of beating around the bush, and now that they're living together again, he's going to jump right in and challenge Brenden. And while they might drive each other up the wall, they firmly have each other's back against anyone on the outside.
This book is angstier than the first two. Meticulous, uptight Brenden is afraid that if he gives in to Dakota and takes what he's been wanting, he will lose his family when it inevitably ends, since Dakota does not like to be tied down. He hides his feelings behind long-established maneuvers, but when a little birdie named Felipe drops a bombshell on Dakota, the latter opens his eyes and for the first time actually sees what Brenden has been hiding.
And thus Operation Seduce Brenden begins. Their long-building UST explodes in brilliant fireworks at one of the cons, where they have to share a hotel room, and nothing will ever be the same.
I liked both characters, even if the two steps forward, one step back dance drove me batty. I could appreciate that Brenden was hesitant to move forward, afraid to disappoint or upset his "adoptive" mother, and scared that after their amazing night of passion he will lose everything he's ever wanted. Dakota also grows in this book - he's intuitive, and he really thinks about whether he should go after Brenden, whether he can stick with one guy and allow himself to be tied down. He realizes that he cannot toy with Brenden's heart so he is careful to show him that he's serious and begins to actively woo him.
Their romance is set against a backdrop of geeky life, with multiple cons they're either organizing or attending, and the author either participates in this life or has done extensive research as to what goes on behind the scenes, as all of those scenes felt realistic and rang true.
There are many emotional moments that brought tears to my eyes, and I really loved that this book wasn't just about their romance but also about their family relationships, and how they navigated the eventual coming-out.
I quite enjoyed this book, and I think you will too. Just do yourself a favor and read all three of them, in the order they were published.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
July 30, 2019
I have been waiting for foster brothers/best friend, Brenden and Dakota’s story, since the very first time I read this series. There’s a glimpse of Brenden’s unrequited love towards Dakota. But at the same time, these two can’t seem to stop arguing whenever they are near each other in the comic convention. I expect that their story would be super explosive.
Interestingly… I didn’t really get that, but at the same time, because it finally told the story completely from their perspectives (not just from the side lines, with other characters offering their opinion), I could understand why it took SO LONG for these two to be together.
Dakota’s aunt and uncle took Brenden after his mother passed away and his father unwilling to acknowledge him. Then Brenden promises that he will always be Dakota’s brother, even if in his hear, Brenden never sees Dakota that way. I guess that’s one of the root problems. Brenden’s fear of breaking the promise and disappointing his foster parents, as well as his unwillingness to be just another notch on Dakota’s bedpost.
Because Dakota is a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ kind of guy. Dakota doesn’t believe in long-term commitment. Everybody leaves, or everybody dies. When Dakota realizes that Brenden is attracted to him, he figures, why not? Why can’t they act on it? It’s not like it’s serious, they can have fun and unravel or those unresolved sexual tension, right?
On one hand, I liked that Brenden and Dakota TALKED about their issues in between arguments upon arguments that they had. They are so completely different from one another, it bounds to happen. But yes, they talked. They tried to approach the problem either from Brenden’s angle or Dakota’s angle. It feels mature.
But on the other hand, I also felt like it went on, and on, and on, like merry-go-round. Once Brenden is better, Dakota is the one freaking out. Once Dakota is able to get grip on thing, Brenden needs to take the step back. It’s quite exhausting, after a while.
Luckily Labbe’s writing is excellent, which help me moves forward and feels satisfied with how these two finally on the same page. Oh, they will still argue, like many odd couples before them. But they know that they are completely in love, and they will be together no matter what… with their kittens, till the end of the road.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Interestingly… I didn’t really get that, but at the same time, because it finally told the story completely from their perspectives (not just from the side lines, with other characters offering their opinion), I could understand why it took SO LONG for these two to be together.
Dakota’s aunt and uncle took Brenden after his mother passed away and his father unwilling to acknowledge him. Then Brenden promises that he will always be Dakota’s brother, even if in his hear, Brenden never sees Dakota that way. I guess that’s one of the root problems. Brenden’s fear of breaking the promise and disappointing his foster parents, as well as his unwillingness to be just another notch on Dakota’s bedpost.
Because Dakota is a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ kind of guy. Dakota doesn’t believe in long-term commitment. Everybody leaves, or everybody dies. When Dakota realizes that Brenden is attracted to him, he figures, why not? Why can’t they act on it? It’s not like it’s serious, they can have fun and unravel or those unresolved sexual tension, right?
On one hand, I liked that Brenden and Dakota TALKED about their issues in between arguments upon arguments that they had. They are so completely different from one another, it bounds to happen. But yes, they talked. They tried to approach the problem either from Brenden’s angle or Dakota’s angle. It feels mature.
But on the other hand, I also felt like it went on, and on, and on, like merry-go-round. Once Brenden is better, Dakota is the one freaking out. Once Dakota is able to get grip on thing, Brenden needs to take the step back. It’s quite exhausting, after a while.
Luckily Labbe’s writing is excellent, which help me moves forward and feels satisfied with how these two finally on the same page. Oh, they will still argue, like many odd couples before them. But they know that they are completely in love, and they will be together no matter what… with their kittens, till the end of the road.
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
August 5, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
This is the third book in the Geek Life series and I have enjoyed reading them all. I think this one is truly best appreciated if read in order, though it can be enjoyed as a standalone. Brenden and Dakota are polar opposites, Brenden being a fussy neat-freak who treasures order, rules, and the ability to control his life through elaborate planning, while Dakota’s an impulsive free spirit who relishes his no-strings life and pushing Brenden’s buttons. Their deep connection has facilitated an adversarial friendship, in place of the sexual tension that has built unnoticed by Dakota. Once Dakota is clued in, he begins to see Brenden’s many passive-aggressive behaviors as actions to hide his true feelings—and it leads to a night of explosive sex that Dakota will not soon forget. But, is he capable of having more, and with his best friend/business partner?
I seriously loved how this one came together. Dakota’s whole-hearted reflections on his life with the objective to make Brenden his partner in all parts of his life were sassy and fun, like Dakota himself.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
This is the third book in the Geek Life series and I have enjoyed reading them all. I think this one is truly best appreciated if read in order, though it can be enjoyed as a standalone. Brenden and Dakota are polar opposites, Brenden being a fussy neat-freak who treasures order, rules, and the ability to control his life through elaborate planning, while Dakota’s an impulsive free spirit who relishes his no-strings life and pushing Brenden’s buttons. Their deep connection has facilitated an adversarial friendship, in place of the sexual tension that has built unnoticed by Dakota. Once Dakota is clued in, he begins to see Brenden’s many passive-aggressive behaviors as actions to hide his true feelings—and it leads to a night of explosive sex that Dakota will not soon forget. But, is he capable of having more, and with his best friend/business partner?
I seriously loved how this one came together. Dakota’s whole-hearted reflections on his life with the objective to make Brenden his partner in all parts of his life were sassy and fun, like Dakota himself.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
August 31, 2019
Brendan and Dakota have been best friends ever since Brendan arrived at his new foster home and met Dakota, another foster who happens to be related to the foster family, and two brothers whose mom and dad are the fosters. Dakota and Brendan each have a wealth of baggage—figuratively, not literally—and ever since one night when a drunken teenage Dakota kissed Brendan, Brendan has been dreaming of more. Unfortunately, Dakota doesn’t remember that night, and he’s such a player, it’s unlikely he’d ever want to settle down with a boring geek like Brendan who lives his life one bullet point on his checklist at a time.
The two are like oil and vinegar—at least on the surface. Below the surface, even their friends can see the sexual attraction simmering. But that’s something Brendan will never act on because he promised his foster mother long ago that he would never engage in an inappropriate relationship with Dakota, and years later, he still feels the pull of that promise. But after Dakota moves in with Brendan and they begin work on the largest convention Brendan has ever pulled off, things change. Dakota begins to wonder what it would be like to settle down with the prickly, brilliant planner. Much of the book is a push-pull between the two—their sniping and arguments give them energy and increase their attraction. It’s so much fun to go along for the ride, especially when Dakota decides to try his hand at romancing Brendan and Brendan remains clueless.
The best part of this story is getting to know these two complex characters and watching their evolution from sniping siblings to two men who are finally fully committed to each other. It takes a while and there are a few segments in the story where I wanted them to hurry up, but in the long run, the slow build pays off. There are also quite a few visits with characters from the past two books and we get to be at Morris and Theo’s wedding and the nuptials for Felipe and Trask. Wedding lovers will be super happy with this story. And the proposal from Dakota to Brendan ranks among the best I’ve ever heard. The pressure is on. The con is coming together, or falling apart, depending on who you speak to, and Dakota is ready to finally settle down. Just how he manages to get Brendan to the altar is so worth the wait.
I totally love this series. All the characters—from MCs to secondary to the kittens Brendan and Dakota adopt—are wonderful, three-dimensional, engaging, and memorable. I highly recommend all three books.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
The two are like oil and vinegar—at least on the surface. Below the surface, even their friends can see the sexual attraction simmering. But that’s something Brendan will never act on because he promised his foster mother long ago that he would never engage in an inappropriate relationship with Dakota, and years later, he still feels the pull of that promise. But after Dakota moves in with Brendan and they begin work on the largest convention Brendan has ever pulled off, things change. Dakota begins to wonder what it would be like to settle down with the prickly, brilliant planner. Much of the book is a push-pull between the two—their sniping and arguments give them energy and increase their attraction. It’s so much fun to go along for the ride, especially when Dakota decides to try his hand at romancing Brendan and Brendan remains clueless.
The best part of this story is getting to know these two complex characters and watching their evolution from sniping siblings to two men who are finally fully committed to each other. It takes a while and there are a few segments in the story where I wanted them to hurry up, but in the long run, the slow build pays off. There are also quite a few visits with characters from the past two books and we get to be at Morris and Theo’s wedding and the nuptials for Felipe and Trask. Wedding lovers will be super happy with this story. And the proposal from Dakota to Brendan ranks among the best I’ve ever heard. The pressure is on. The con is coming together, or falling apart, depending on who you speak to, and Dakota is ready to finally settle down. Just how he manages to get Brendan to the altar is so worth the wait.
I totally love this series. All the characters—from MCs to secondary to the kittens Brendan and Dakota adopt—are wonderful, three-dimensional, engaging, and memorable. I highly recommend all three books.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
August 11, 2019
Oh, man. This one kinda turned into a slog for me to get through.
I'm torn between 2 and 2.5 stars because on the one hand, I was invested in these guys and their relationship, but on the other hand, I had serious issues with the narrative flow. To the extent that I would not have finished this if I weren't committed to do so for the sake of this review...
But let's start with the good: I really liked both MCs and loved their relationship/dynamic. I love when the MCs have a true best friends dynamic with lots of teasing and bickering that doesn't change just because they're in a relationship.
“I love you, you big jerk.”
“Yeah, I love you too, you anal-retentive twerp.”
These guys are solid partners-for-life that are 100% themselves around each other at all times. Beautiful.
The chemistry was good, too. And not just the sexy times (which there were only two of), but all the little touches, nuzzles and smoldering eye contact.
Unfortunately, once Dakota tells Brenden he wants a real relationship, which happens right at the halfway point, we stopped getting to read about/experience said relationship, minus a few paragraphs here and there.
It got very hyper-focused on the analyzing/internal angst of their relationship -- mostly, can Dakota trust himself to commit and will Brenden ever feel comfortable making the relationship public -- and everything else became background noise between repeated, redundant inner monologues analyzing the same small handful of character beats over and over and over again. It just got very dry, with all the stuff I wanted to see happening off page. To the point that it started to feel like a tease.
They’d dined in bed on slightly charred bread, lukewarm lasagna, and limp salad, laughing and stealing bites from each other’s plates. It had been a sweet and sexy night.
That I would have loved to read about!! Because I really did like these guys together.
I may have had more patience for this if I wasn't already frustrated with the writing.
At first, I thought the problem was that I hadn't read the first two books in the series, but then I started feeling the same jarring disconnect with elements that were very specific to these guys and this story. It was especially frustrating because you really get the sense that the author has a very clear picture of their lives ... she just wrote as if we already knew all those details, too. Each time I thought, "wait...what??" the more it took me out of the story, until it felt like I spent more time out of the story than in it. I just couldn't get into the flow. I guess I just did not mesh with her writing style.
(And frankly, if it was just a case of missing a few beats that were already established in the earlier books, then that's even more annoying! Because it would have been very easy to address with a few phrases here and there. But truly, the other characters don't play a big role here. I think there are only four moments that I would even upgrade the former MCs from tertiary to secondary characters.)
Also, if you're worried about the "foster brother" aspect, don't be. There is nothing brother-y about these guys. They didn't meet until they were 16, and they are very clearly friends, not family.
**This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program**
I'm torn between 2 and 2.5 stars because on the one hand, I was invested in these guys and their relationship, but on the other hand, I had serious issues with the narrative flow. To the extent that I would not have finished this if I weren't committed to do so for the sake of this review...
But let's start with the good: I really liked both MCs and loved their relationship/dynamic. I love when the MCs have a true best friends dynamic with lots of teasing and bickering that doesn't change just because they're in a relationship.
“I love you, you big jerk.”
“Yeah, I love you too, you anal-retentive twerp.”
These guys are solid partners-for-life that are 100% themselves around each other at all times. Beautiful.
The chemistry was good, too. And not just the sexy times (which there were only two of), but all the little touches, nuzzles and smoldering eye contact.
Unfortunately, once Dakota tells Brenden he wants a real relationship, which happens right at the halfway point, we stopped getting to read about/experience said relationship, minus a few paragraphs here and there.
It got very hyper-focused on the analyzing/internal angst of their relationship -- mostly, can Dakota trust himself to commit and will Brenden ever feel comfortable making the relationship public -- and everything else became background noise between repeated, redundant inner monologues analyzing the same small handful of character beats over and over and over again. It just got very dry, with all the stuff I wanted to see happening off page. To the point that it started to feel like a tease.
They’d dined in bed on slightly charred bread, lukewarm lasagna, and limp salad, laughing and stealing bites from each other’s plates. It had been a sweet and sexy night.
That I would have loved to read about!! Because I really did like these guys together.
I may have had more patience for this if I wasn't already frustrated with the writing.
At first, I thought the problem was that I hadn't read the first two books in the series, but then I started feeling the same jarring disconnect with elements that were very specific to these guys and this story. It was especially frustrating because you really get the sense that the author has a very clear picture of their lives ... she just wrote as if we already knew all those details, too. Each time I thought, "wait...what??" the more it took me out of the story, until it felt like I spent more time out of the story than in it. I just couldn't get into the flow. I guess I just did not mesh with her writing style.
(And frankly, if it was just a case of missing a few beats that were already established in the earlier books, then that's even more annoying! Because it would have been very easy to address with a few phrases here and there. But truly, the other characters don't play a big role here. I think there are only four moments that I would even upgrade the former MCs from tertiary to secondary characters.)
Also, if you're worried about the "foster brother" aspect, don't be. There is nothing brother-y about these guys. They didn't meet until they were 16, and they are very clearly friends, not family.
**This book was provided for free by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MMRG Don’t Buy My Love Program**
August 22, 2019
4 stars
*I received a copy through the MMRG DBML program for honest review*
Synopsis: Brenden and Dakota have been best friends almost since they met (they had to fight quite a bit, first) when they were living with the same family. Brenden and Dakota were both being fostered, although Dakota was actually related to the foster family. Brenden can't remember a time when he hasn't really been in love with Dakota, but because of a promise made to his foster parents, he tries his hardest to stay away. This is made harder when Dakota moves back in with Brenden, so now they are not only working together, they are living together, too.
Dakota doesn't believe in relationships or marriage, and doesn't plan to change that any time soon. He loves Brenden as a best friend, and it isn't until one of their cons that he starts looking at him another way.
This was part of a series, and I haven't read the previous books, but I did not feel lost. There were a couple of moments where the POV switched to the other characters from the previous books, and in one case, I felt it was completely unwarranted, since it did not advance the story of Dakota and Brenden at all. I understand it was in there for fans of the other books, but if it's not helping the story, why is it there? It just reminded me of the THIRDS series, where even though the book is about another couple, Dex still manages to hijack the story.
Brenden and Dakota were great together. They understood each other, knew when to move forward, and just how far to push each other. I liked the way they worked together in their job, and how they supported each other outside of the job, and outside of the "interested in you" relationship.
Their family was pretty great, too. Very loving, and very much like a family.
I felt that the pacing of the book, with how the relationship developed was well thought out. Nothing felt rushed or as though they were pushed into anything before they were ready. Well, not outside of their respective comfort zones, anyway. It felt as though things developed naturally, as they would in real life, over time, with time to adapt to their new reality, and to figure out how they were going to work it if this chance they were taking didn't work out.
I do wish that we were able to see more of the actual con, even though the details leading up to it were well covered. I guess in the grand scheme of their relationship, it wasn't important, but as characters, this was going to be a huge step forward in their careers.
The epilogue was cute, and again focused on Brenden and Dakota together, rather than outside forces, which I thought was nice.
*I received a copy through the MMRG DBML program for honest review*
Synopsis: Brenden and Dakota have been best friends almost since they met (they had to fight quite a bit, first) when they were living with the same family. Brenden and Dakota were both being fostered, although Dakota was actually related to the foster family. Brenden can't remember a time when he hasn't really been in love with Dakota, but because of a promise made to his foster parents, he tries his hardest to stay away. This is made harder when Dakota moves back in with Brenden, so now they are not only working together, they are living together, too.
Dakota doesn't believe in relationships or marriage, and doesn't plan to change that any time soon. He loves Brenden as a best friend, and it isn't until one of their cons that he starts looking at him another way.
This was part of a series, and I haven't read the previous books, but I did not feel lost. There were a couple of moments where the POV switched to the other characters from the previous books, and in one case, I felt it was completely unwarranted, since it did not advance the story of Dakota and Brenden at all. I understand it was in there for fans of the other books, but if it's not helping the story, why is it there? It just reminded me of the THIRDS series, where even though the book is about another couple, Dex still manages to hijack the story.
Brenden and Dakota were great together. They understood each other, knew when to move forward, and just how far to push each other. I liked the way they worked together in their job, and how they supported each other outside of the job, and outside of the "interested in you" relationship.
Their family was pretty great, too. Very loving, and very much like a family.
I felt that the pacing of the book, with how the relationship developed was well thought out. Nothing felt rushed or as though they were pushed into anything before they were ready. Well, not outside of their respective comfort zones, anyway. It felt as though things developed naturally, as they would in real life, over time, with time to adapt to their new reality, and to figure out how they were going to work it if this chance they were taking didn't work out.
I do wish that we were able to see more of the actual con, even though the details leading up to it were well covered. I guess in the grand scheme of their relationship, it wasn't important, but as characters, this was going to be a huge step forward in their careers.
The epilogue was cute, and again focused on Brenden and Dakota together, rather than outside forces, which I thought was nice.
July 23, 2019
This was such a great book. It is about two foster brothers who never seen one another as that. Now don’t go thinking this is some kind of taboo read because that is not what this is. These two men are more best friends then anything and they was only in the same foster home for a short time together. The foster mom and dad that fostered both men still view them s theirs so that is the closest to taboo as it gets. This book has a lot of anguish and back and Forsyth on whether these two men should be together but the simple truth is, though completely opposite to one another, they re perfect for the other in a way no one else ever could be.
Brenden has been secretly in love with his best friend Dakota since the two was at one time in the same foster home. Years later Brenden is still trying to hide and fight the feelings he has for Dakota. Especially now that Dakota is livin with him and of course Dakota is Dakota and he has no since of boundaries what so ever. Each day it is harder and harder for Brenden to hide his feelings so he throws himself head long into work like he normally does.
At an upcoming con convention things change between Brenden and Dakota. There was a screw up on the rooms and now Brenden and Dakota are sharing. Room. This would not be an issue but Dakota has gotten it in his mind that there is more between the two of them and he wants to explore that aspect. Problem is Brenden sees his feelings as more then Dakota does. Dakota is thinking a friends with benefits type relationship but that is not something Brenden can do.
Issues arise between these two men after hat night together and now if they do not figure out where to go next then their friendship could be in jeopardy. Can these two men work out their feelings for one another before they lose everything? How will their make shift family feel if they do come together? Is this possible new found relationship worth all of the heartache it may cause?
This was such a great read. I really enjoyed this whole book. It felt a little long but that did not matter, it was worth it because the whole content of the book was so much better with all the little details thrown in. Great read!!! I look forward to the next book in this series.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Ez
Brenden has been secretly in love with his best friend Dakota since the two was at one time in the same foster home. Years later Brenden is still trying to hide and fight the feelings he has for Dakota. Especially now that Dakota is livin with him and of course Dakota is Dakota and he has no since of boundaries what so ever. Each day it is harder and harder for Brenden to hide his feelings so he throws himself head long into work like he normally does.
At an upcoming con convention things change between Brenden and Dakota. There was a screw up on the rooms and now Brenden and Dakota are sharing. Room. This would not be an issue but Dakota has gotten it in his mind that there is more between the two of them and he wants to explore that aspect. Problem is Brenden sees his feelings as more then Dakota does. Dakota is thinking a friends with benefits type relationship but that is not something Brenden can do.
Issues arise between these two men after hat night together and now if they do not figure out where to go next then their friendship could be in jeopardy. Can these two men work out their feelings for one another before they lose everything? How will their make shift family feel if they do come together? Is this possible new found relationship worth all of the heartache it may cause?
This was such a great read. I really enjoyed this whole book. It felt a little long but that did not matter, it was worth it because the whole content of the book was so much better with all the little details thrown in. Great read!!! I look forward to the next book in this series.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Ez
August 1, 2019
I have to start with the fact I simply ADORE this series! I started with book #2 and even though Labbe changes POV every chapter and some of them are side characters (that are the MCs in the other books in the series) these books can totally be read as stand alones- but why not read them all, they are so good! I also like how the plots are a bit interlocked together, while still keeping each book a complete piece and never giving you the feeling like you are missing something because it happens in another book.
For those with someone geeky in their lives, of geeks themselves this series is painfully honest and real. I love how authentic the characters feel, and the relationships between them all. Add to that the complexity of geek culture and how it's described are both unique and interesting. As a geek myself with many friends in the geek community I really enjoyed how the author chose to portray geek life in these books. Someone who is totally put off by geeks might not like these books as much, as they do revolve around it quite a bit, but I personally find it one of most appealing things about them.
This book tics so many boxes for me, with one of my favorite troupes in it, friends to lovers. Dakota and Brenden have so much history between them, and you feel it with every word they say- this is why I love friends to lovers, it has a base from which the relationship grows. Here in particular the base is wide and the bonds connecting the two strong. I was also waiting for them to get their book ever since I read book #2, and then #1, were you get some glimpses into their lives and the underlining attraction and love between them. Dakota and Brenden have been a long way coming into this, and boy is the explosion between them good.
I also love banter, an author can win me over with some good bantering, and Brenden bantering with Dakota is one of the best things in the entire book series.
The only things I would like more about these books is extra sex scenes (because they are so hot!) and just more stories. It seems like book #3 is the last one as we didn't get more side characters taking the wheel to clue us in, but I have hope.
For those with someone geeky in their lives, of geeks themselves this series is painfully honest and real. I love how authentic the characters feel, and the relationships between them all. Add to that the complexity of geek culture and how it's described are both unique and interesting. As a geek myself with many friends in the geek community I really enjoyed how the author chose to portray geek life in these books. Someone who is totally put off by geeks might not like these books as much, as they do revolve around it quite a bit, but I personally find it one of most appealing things about them.
This book tics so many boxes for me, with one of my favorite troupes in it, friends to lovers. Dakota and Brenden have so much history between them, and you feel it with every word they say- this is why I love friends to lovers, it has a base from which the relationship grows. Here in particular the base is wide and the bonds connecting the two strong. I was also waiting for them to get their book ever since I read book #2, and then #1, were you get some glimpses into their lives and the underlining attraction and love between them. Dakota and Brenden have been a long way coming into this, and boy is the explosion between them good.
I also love banter, an author can win me over with some good bantering, and Brenden bantering with Dakota is one of the best things in the entire book series.
The only things I would like more about these books is extra sex scenes (because they are so hot!) and just more stories. It seems like book #3 is the last one as we didn't get more side characters taking the wheel to clue us in, but I have hope.
August 5, 2019
4 Stars!
Brenden and Dakota are best friends, but almost complete opposites. Dakota goes with the flow, while Brenden has his never-ending checklists. They have each other's backs through all things, even when they drive each other crazy. They run conventions together and have a very large, important one coming up; in fact, it's so important that Dakota has moved back in with Brenden. One friendly comment makes Dakota impulsive enough to test the waters, leading to a night neither man can forget. But there are plenty of potential consequences, Brenden fears losing his loving foster family and Dakota has to confront a lot of his perceptions and beliefs.
I liked how Brenden and Dakota were with each other. Were they sometimes immature? Sure, but they knew how to help each other when they were stressed out and knew all the signs that the other was struggling. They, in some respects, were like an old married couple without actually being more than best friends. I was glad that Dakota took a chance to see if Brenden was attracted to him, but I was disappointed in how Dakota handled the aftermath. While I was disappointed, it held true to his character. I did like how they took care of each other and worked together so well with their different strengths and methods.
You can read this as a standalone as I did, but I suspect that I would have enjoyed this one even more had I read the other books first. I will be going back and reading the others as soon as I can, following up with a reread of this one. That said, there is a chapter in the book that I suspect that fans of the series will really enjoy, but left me feeling confused since it was about a previous couple and a number of people that I really had no clue about. Overall, a fun friends-to-lovers story that I plan on rereading.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Brenden and Dakota are best friends, but almost complete opposites. Dakota goes with the flow, while Brenden has his never-ending checklists. They have each other's backs through all things, even when they drive each other crazy. They run conventions together and have a very large, important one coming up; in fact, it's so important that Dakota has moved back in with Brenden. One friendly comment makes Dakota impulsive enough to test the waters, leading to a night neither man can forget. But there are plenty of potential consequences, Brenden fears losing his loving foster family and Dakota has to confront a lot of his perceptions and beliefs.
I liked how Brenden and Dakota were with each other. Were they sometimes immature? Sure, but they knew how to help each other when they were stressed out and knew all the signs that the other was struggling. They, in some respects, were like an old married couple without actually being more than best friends. I was glad that Dakota took a chance to see if Brenden was attracted to him, but I was disappointed in how Dakota handled the aftermath. While I was disappointed, it held true to his character. I did like how they took care of each other and worked together so well with their different strengths and methods.
You can read this as a standalone as I did, but I suspect that I would have enjoyed this one even more had I read the other books first. I will be going back and reading the others as soon as I can, following up with a reread of this one. That said, there is a chapter in the book that I suspect that fans of the series will really enjoy, but left me feeling confused since it was about a previous couple and a number of people that I really had no clue about. Overall, a fun friends-to-lovers story that I plan on rereading.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
August 12, 2019
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is the third book in the Geek Life series but each book can be read as a standalone. That being said, I read them in order and this added to the enjoyment of all the stories, I think. I did not like it as much as I did book 1 but I am still happy to give it four stars and recommend it.
Brendan and Dakota have been raised as foster brothers and Brendan has always promised that Dakota will be his brother and there will never be anything else between them. This situation has to change though as these two young men are meant to be together. I don't want to give anything away so I'm going to leave it at that.
The book is very well written and I invested a lot in both men. I wanted to see them struggle and I wanted to see them win.
I will mention that this is not a taboo book even though they are foster brothers.
Recommended.
This is the third book in the Geek Life series but each book can be read as a standalone. That being said, I read them in order and this added to the enjoyment of all the stories, I think. I did not like it as much as I did book 1 but I am still happy to give it four stars and recommend it.
Brendan and Dakota have been raised as foster brothers and Brendan has always promised that Dakota will be his brother and there will never be anything else between them. This situation has to change though as these two young men are meant to be together. I don't want to give anything away so I'm going to leave it at that.
The book is very well written and I invested a lot in both men. I wanted to see them struggle and I wanted to see them win.
I will mention that this is not a taboo book even though they are foster brothers.
Recommended.
July 21, 2020
Book 3 in the series "Geek Life" and it can be read by itself but some of the other MC's do show up here and it's nice to see them, and know their story. Plus these MC's have featured in their stories and I enjoyed them all so I suggest reading them all, in order.
Nothing too angsty but a feel good love story :-)
Nothing too angsty but a feel good love story :-)
could-not-finish
August 25, 2019blech.
August 4, 2019
This series literally gets better and better with every book! I have been waiting for Brenden and Dakota’s story since they were first mentioned. Their chemistry was beyond hot.
Brenden is so much more than his grumpy exterior lets on. I love how much he loved not just Dakota but the whole Nye family. His need to clean when stressed is something I feel at times so i can definitely relate to that but his dedication is definitely something i need to work on. It really was inspiring to me how he kept his home and business so neat and efficient.
Dakota always seemed as if he was a slight slacker until you find out how passionate he is about his podcast and helping Brenden with the cons. He was a fun character that I would love to see a lot more of, along with Brenden.
I don’t know whether this is the last book in the series but if there are more, then you can bet that I will be front and center to get my hands on it.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Brenden is so much more than his grumpy exterior lets on. I love how much he loved not just Dakota but the whole Nye family. His need to clean when stressed is something I feel at times so i can definitely relate to that but his dedication is definitely something i need to work on. It really was inspiring to me how he kept his home and business so neat and efficient.
Dakota always seemed as if he was a slight slacker until you find out how passionate he is about his podcast and helping Brenden with the cons. He was a fun character that I would love to see a lot more of, along with Brenden.
I don’t know whether this is the last book in the series but if there are more, then you can bet that I will be front and center to get my hands on it.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
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