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Southern Lights #1
Powder & Pavlova
alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781646061983
ETHAN SHARPE is living every young Kiwi’s dream—seeing the world for a couple of years while deciding what to do with his life. Then he gets a call.
Two days later he’s back in New Zealand. Six months later his mother is dead, his fifteen-year-old brother is going off the rails and the café he’s inherited is failing. His life is a hot mess and the last thing he needs is another complication—like the man who just walked into his café,
a much older…
sinfully hot…
EPIC complication.
TANNER CARPENTER’s time in Queenstown has an expiration date. He has a new branch of his business to get up and running, exorcise a few personal demons while he’s at it, and then head back to Auckland to get on with his life. He isn’t looking for a relationship especially with someone fifteen years his junior, but Ethan is gorgeous, troubled and in need of a friend. Tanner could be that for Ethan, right? He could brighten Ethan’s day for a while, help him out, maybe even offer some… stress relief, no strings attached.
It was a good plan, until it wasn’t.
ETHAN SHARPE is living every young Kiwi’s dream—seeing the world for a couple of years while deciding what to do with his life. Then he gets a call.
Two days later he’s back in New Zealand. Six months later his mother is dead, his fifteen-year-old brother is going off the rails and the café he’s inherited is failing. His life is a hot mess and the last thing he needs is another complication—like the man who just walked into his café,
a much older…
sinfully hot…
EPIC complication.
TANNER CARPENTER’s time in Queenstown has an expiration date. He has a new branch of his business to get up and running, exorcise a few personal demons while he’s at it, and then head back to Auckland to get on with his life. He isn’t looking for a relationship especially with someone fifteen years his junior, but Ethan is gorgeous, troubled and in need of a friend. Tanner could be that for Ethan, right? He could brighten Ethan’s day for a while, help him out, maybe even offer some… stress relief, no strings attached.
It was a good plan, until it wasn’t.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2020
347 people are currently reading
956 people want to read
About the author
Jay Hogan
25 books923 followersHeart, humour and keeping it real.
I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.
Join my reader group to keep up with my news.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hogan...
You can also find me at:
https://www.jayhoganauthor.com where you can buy my audiobooks direct at a discount.
https://www.facebook.com/JayHoganAuthor
I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.
Join my reader group to keep up with my news.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hogan...
You can also find me at:
https://www.jayhoganauthor.com where you can buy my audiobooks direct at a discount.
https://www.facebook.com/JayHoganAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
February 4, 2020
I waffled around with my rating on this one a little bit, mostly because it is a slower-moving book and it took me about a week to read. But, in the end, I felt the feels I wanted to feel.
Powder & Pavlova is an emotional, moderately angsty read, with great secondary characters and some real-life relationship complexities. It was my first read from Jay Hogan, and it made me want to read her whole backlist.
There was a big helping of insta-lust, which usually doesn't work for me, but underneath that, these guys were both wrestling with some real pain. One, the loss of a career and an identity that he has to confront for the first time in years, and the other the death of a parent and the new responsibility as a caretaker for his brother. These aren't light issues, and they are treated with a lot of respect and realness.
Though the book moved fairly slowly, I felt like the progression was organic and made sense. Even the conflicts didn't feel manufactured. Plus, there is SO much potential for more stories in the series with all of the awesome side characters.
A wonderful read, even if it was a bit attraction-forward for my tastes. I can't wait for the next in the series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
Powder & Pavlova is an emotional, moderately angsty read, with great secondary characters and some real-life relationship complexities. It was my first read from Jay Hogan, and it made me want to read her whole backlist.
There was a big helping of insta-lust, which usually doesn't work for me, but underneath that, these guys were both wrestling with some real pain. One, the loss of a career and an identity that he has to confront for the first time in years, and the other the death of a parent and the new responsibility as a caretaker for his brother. These aren't light issues, and they are treated with a lot of respect and realness.
Though the book moved fairly slowly, I felt like the progression was organic and made sense. Even the conflicts didn't feel manufactured. Plus, there is SO much potential for more stories in the series with all of the awesome side characters.
A wonderful read, even if it was a bit attraction-forward for my tastes. I can't wait for the next in the series.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
February 9, 2025
This is an incredibly drawn out slow burn and then it's a drawn out emotional wringer. Exhausting. I love it, but it's probably not for everyone.
It's also a bit repetitive, unfortunately. That's also my only criticism, because even though Ethan and Tanner probably gave me gray hair, it would have been perfect without the recurring inner monologues and conversations.
The repetitions are not too close together, fortunately, otherwise I might have gone up the wall. It's more like, “wait, didn't we have this 100 pages before?”, so yeah, if you have a fuzzy head like me, you might not even notice it.
Otherwise, and that's why it gets 4 stars, the story is quite realistic and brought me to tears. And all because Ethan and Tanner feel so much for each other, can even admit it, but the whole thing has an irreversible end date.
A story that is not bathed in sunshine and roses, that involves a lot of pain and anger, in which there is no white knight who turns everything around for the best.
And yet it does, hard-earned HEA and, like the whole book, without much fanfare.
There are also some awkward conversations here and there, every now and then Ethan's age comes through, then it gets a bit ridiculous, but ok, that also cheers the whole thing up. Apart from that, the age difference only plays a major role at the beginning, as an “obstacle” so to speak, but there's no kink to it.
Tanner tut-tutted. “Didn’t your parents teach you it’s rude to ask someone’s age?”
Ethan simply raised a brow.
“Wow. Tough crowd. Okay, I’m thirty-nine. So, that makes sixteen years between us?” 💕😂💕
“Second and last rule,” he said with a wicked grin. “Do with me whatever the fuck you want. As long as it ends with that gorgeous dick of yours buried in my arse up to my fucking sinuses, I don’t care. Just don’t keep me waiting.” 😳🖤😳
“Is there a word for a gay silver fox on skis? Oooohhhh, how about arctic wolf?” 🤭💗🤭
Otherwise, a warning that there is soooo much coffee here, I felt completely caffeinated although luckily I didn't deviate from my limit of three cups per day. ☕️☕️☕️
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: severe long grieving (death of a mother due to cancer), angry brother, alcohol consumption, struggling business, age gap, loss of an athletic career due to damaged knee, mention of suicidal thoughts
Cheating between MCs: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: Yes
Kinks: both are vers, light spanking, 1001 kisses 😊
It's also a bit repetitive, unfortunately. That's also my only criticism, because even though Ethan and Tanner probably gave me gray hair, it would have been perfect without the recurring inner monologues and conversations.
The repetitions are not too close together, fortunately, otherwise I might have gone up the wall. It's more like, “wait, didn't we have this 100 pages before?”, so yeah, if you have a fuzzy head like me, you might not even notice it.
Otherwise, and that's why it gets 4 stars, the story is quite realistic and brought me to tears. And all because Ethan and Tanner feel so much for each other, can even admit it, but the whole thing has an irreversible end date.
A story that is not bathed in sunshine and roses, that involves a lot of pain and anger, in which there is no white knight who turns everything around for the best.
And yet it does, hard-earned HEA and, like the whole book, without much fanfare.
There are also some awkward conversations here and there, every now and then Ethan's age comes through, then it gets a bit ridiculous, but ok, that also cheers the whole thing up. Apart from that, the age difference only plays a major role at the beginning, as an “obstacle” so to speak, but there's no kink to it.
Tanner tut-tutted. “Didn’t your parents teach you it’s rude to ask someone’s age?”
Ethan simply raised a brow.
“Wow. Tough crowd. Okay, I’m thirty-nine. So, that makes sixteen years between us?” 💕😂💕
“Second and last rule,” he said with a wicked grin. “Do with me whatever the fuck you want. As long as it ends with that gorgeous dick of yours buried in my arse up to my fucking sinuses, I don’t care. Just don’t keep me waiting.” 😳🖤😳
“Is there a word for a gay silver fox on skis? Oooohhhh, how about arctic wolf?” 🤭💗🤭
Otherwise, a warning that there is soooo much coffee here, I felt completely caffeinated although luckily I didn't deviate from my limit of three cups per day. ☕️☕️☕️
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: severe long grieving (death of a mother due to cancer), angry brother, alcohol consumption, struggling business, age gap, loss of an athletic career due to damaged knee, mention of suicidal thoughts
Cheating between MCs: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: Yes
Kinks: both are vers, light spanking, 1001 kisses 😊
August 28, 2025
Ethan has a lot on his plate: trying to save his mum’s bakery, caring for his (very authentically) teenage brother, navigating guilt, financial stress and grief after losing his mum to breast cancer just six months ago… oh, and falling in love with a man who won’t be able to stay. That’s a lot to tackle in one book - but it worked, most of the time.
Honestly, I was very surprised at the setup of the romantic relationship in the beginning.
There was a lot of tension and interest and right off the bat an honest conversation about the fact that they’re very attracted to each other, but then they also instantly decide that they can’t date because of outside circumstances. So we start off the story with acknowledged attraction and interest, established boundaries and set expectations - stuff that’s normally the end goal of a romance arc.
And I don’t know how I feel about it? I kinda loved it because honesty is hot but it also mellowed the tension and made me confused about their dynamic. Like, they talk about wanting each other directly after meeting the other, say they won’t go there for *reasons*, but then go on dates, make out, are incredibly tender and affectionate (but still say they’re ‘just friends and nothing more’??), want to take things *slow* even though one of them is only in town for 5 months total and I’m like huh? What is it now?? Yes or no or slow??
Still, while the romance left me puzzled at times, the other relationships were the beating heart of this book. I really, really loved that the relationship between the brothers got so much page time. Their anger, guilt, frustration, but also their deep love for each other, and shared grief was really convincing and moving and just very well done 🥹
Add to that the slow building of found family around those two by very loveable side characters, and those stories became my fav part of all.
Also: I can’t not mention the setting. The nature descriptions were breathtaking. Do yourself a favor and google Queenstown NZ or The Remarkables (what an apt name). My jaw dropped all the way to the floor. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS PLACE IS REAL?!? BRB, gotta pack my bags and move. Holy shit.
As a whole, this is very sloooow-paced and definitely slice-of-life. I like that vibe, but still, the middle dragged for me. Thankfully, it picked up again toward the end and the HEA left me soft and happy 🥹
3,5⭐️
Honestly, I was very surprised at the setup of the romantic relationship in the beginning.
There was a lot of tension and interest and right off the bat an honest conversation about the fact that they’re very attracted to each other, but then they also instantly decide that they can’t date because of outside circumstances. So we start off the story with acknowledged attraction and interest, established boundaries and set expectations - stuff that’s normally the end goal of a romance arc.
And I don’t know how I feel about it? I kinda loved it because honesty is hot but it also mellowed the tension and made me confused about their dynamic. Like, they talk about wanting each other directly after meeting the other, say they won’t go there for *reasons*, but then go on dates, make out, are incredibly tender and affectionate (but still say they’re ‘just friends and nothing more’??), want to take things *slow* even though one of them is only in town for 5 months total and I’m like huh? What is it now?? Yes or no or slow??
Still, while the romance left me puzzled at times, the other relationships were the beating heart of this book. I really, really loved that the relationship between the brothers got so much page time. Their anger, guilt, frustration, but also their deep love for each other, and shared grief was really convincing and moving and just very well done 🥹
Add to that the slow building of found family around those two by very loveable side characters, and those stories became my fav part of all.
Also: I can’t not mention the setting. The nature descriptions were breathtaking. Do yourself a favor and google Queenstown NZ or The Remarkables (what an apt name). My jaw dropped all the way to the floor. WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS PLACE IS REAL?!? BRB, gotta pack my bags and move. Holy shit.
As a whole, this is very sloooow-paced and definitely slice-of-life. I like that vibe, but still, the middle dragged for me. Thankfully, it picked up again toward the end and the HEA left me soft and happy 🥹
3,5⭐️
November 3, 2024
Reread November 2024
And I really enjoyed this all over again.
Loved Ethan and Tanner and their (non)romance.
Niggles aside, this is a great start to the series ... heading for book 2 (again)
original review
Enjoyable, light and good fun.
Although more serious topics do come up they’re dealt with in a sensible and sensitive way without adding too much drama.
While not too much has been made of the 16-year age gap, I enjoyed the relationship development between Tanner and Ethan, even if their sexual chemistry seemed a bit overplayed at times. I also felt that Tanner was acting rather ‘young’. Not that 39 is old, and I’d expect him to behave like an OAP, but somehow his extreme playfulness and banter felt younger than his age.
And I have to say this: I adored the setting. My jaw hit the ground when I googled Queenstown. Absolutely gorgeous. Not even talking about my drooling envy when the MCs see the Southern Lights. And look at that beautiful cover!
This was an entertaining and cute read, and yes, there might have been niggles, but it was fun!
Off to look at book number 2.
And I really enjoyed this all over again.
Loved Ethan and Tanner and their (non)romance.
Niggles aside, this is a great start to the series ... heading for book 2 (again)
original review
Enjoyable, light and good fun.
Although more serious topics do come up they’re dealt with in a sensible and sensitive way without adding too much drama.
While not too much has been made of the 16-year age gap, I enjoyed the relationship development between Tanner and Ethan, even if their sexual chemistry seemed a bit overplayed at times. I also felt that Tanner was acting rather ‘young’. Not that 39 is old, and I’d expect him to behave like an OAP, but somehow his extreme playfulness and banter felt younger than his age.
And I have to say this: I adored the setting. My jaw hit the ground when I googled Queenstown. Absolutely gorgeous. Not even talking about my drooling envy when the MCs see the Southern Lights. And look at that beautiful cover!
This was an entertaining and cute read, and yes, there might have been niggles, but it was fun!
Off to look at book number 2.
January 28, 2020
This wonderfully evocative New Zealand setting book from Jay gives the reader a really beautiful age gap romance.
I loved the way the passion between Ethan and Tanner was so strong, while at the same time, both were fighting the deeper emotions and fears over the complications falling in love would bring.
With a whole cast of fantastic secondary characters, a real sense of place, and a perfect blend of steamy sex and fairly low intensity angst, this book was another hit.
I'm really excited with where the series goes next too.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I loved the way the passion between Ethan and Tanner was so strong, while at the same time, both were fighting the deeper emotions and fears over the complications falling in love would bring.
With a whole cast of fantastic secondary characters, a real sense of place, and a perfect blend of steamy sex and fairly low intensity angst, this book was another hit.
I'm really excited with where the series goes next too.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Read
March 10, 2023DNF @ 64%...
idk what it was about this book but i couldn't connect with the characters, and i was just getting annoyed with the hot and cold that they were doing to each other.
i felt for Kurt though, even though he was a little shit at times, he deserved more than Ethan was giving him. yes they both were hurting from their mom's death but they should have leaned on one another not pushed each other apart.
and tanner, idk you were there and i didn't feel much of anything towards you.
i must be dead inside since i couldn't care about any of the main characters. I did like Adrian though haha he was telling it how it was.
Gary Furlongs narration of this book is on Scribd for those who wanted to listen to this. He did a good job like always, i am just bummed he couldn't keep me wanting to continue. Also this book was free on Kindle, but not sure for how long.
now i have to find a new book.. oh well.
idk what it was about this book but i couldn't connect with the characters, and i was just getting annoyed with the hot and cold that they were doing to each other.
i felt for Kurt though, even though he was a little shit at times, he deserved more than Ethan was giving him. yes they both were hurting from their mom's death but they should have leaned on one another not pushed each other apart.
and tanner, idk you were there and i didn't feel much of anything towards you.
i must be dead inside since i couldn't care about any of the main characters. I did like Adrian though haha he was telling it how it was.
Gary Furlongs narration of this book is on Scribd for those who wanted to listen to this. He did a good job like always, i am just bummed he couldn't keep me wanting to continue. Also this book was free on Kindle, but not sure for how long.
now i have to find a new book.. oh well.
May 17, 2021
I don’t know how to rate this book. It was really sweet and romantic. Age-gap (my favourite!) Sexy. Interesting characters. Good backstory.
Living in different cities. Doomed to fail.
And that’s the part that annoyed me. If it was a week long fling, I get it. You don’t uproot your life. But they had three months together. Said I love you. But they couldn’t figure out a way to make it work? Oh no, poor us, we only have a few weeks. Really?
I liked the side characters, and I’m excited to read their stories. I really enjoyed Ethan and Tanner together. But it was sooooo slow. And so much happening distracting from the romance. Grief. Raising a teenager. Failing business. Difficult partners. I don’t know. I wished it was 100 pages shorter. It took me forever to read this.
So lovely and romantic, and it gave me feelings, but also bored me and annoyed me.
3.5 🌟
Living in different cities. Doomed to fail.
And that’s the part that annoyed me. If it was a week long fling, I get it. You don’t uproot your life. But they had three months together. Said I love you. But they couldn’t figure out a way to make it work? Oh no, poor us, we only have a few weeks. Really?
I liked the side characters, and I’m excited to read their stories. I really enjoyed Ethan and Tanner together. But it was sooooo slow. And so much happening distracting from the romance. Grief. Raising a teenager. Failing business. Difficult partners. I don’t know. I wished it was 100 pages shorter. It took me forever to read this.
So lovely and romantic, and it gave me feelings, but also bored me and annoyed me.
3.5 🌟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2024
I've been wanting to go to Australia/New Zealand for a while now but recently I just decided it's my new goal in life and if it wasn't so far I'd be there already, but alas, geographical nightmares are a thing apparently.
Also, how ignorant and North American of me to think that The Northern lights were called like that on the whole planet? Like, I had to read this book to learn that yes, in fact, the Northern Lights are actually called Southern Lights in the Southern Hemisphere!
Having said all that, this book was very cute and I'm not even a fan of age-gap but I think it was done very nicely in this story, it was definitely angstier than I thought it was gonna be, especially because like Ethan, we knew what was coming, that Tanner was gonna leave so by the 90% mark I was as heartbroken as him and I'll confess it did make me cry a bit.
Thankfully we had a nice HEA and I could easily see myself reading the rest of the books in this series.
Also, how ignorant and North American of me to think that The Northern lights were called like that on the whole planet? Like, I had to read this book to learn that yes, in fact, the Northern Lights are actually called Southern Lights in the Southern Hemisphere!
Having said all that, this book was very cute and I'm not even a fan of age-gap but I think it was done very nicely in this story, it was definitely angstier than I thought it was gonna be, especially because like Ethan, we knew what was coming, that Tanner was gonna leave so by the 90% mark I was as heartbroken as him and I'll confess it did make me cry a bit.
Thankfully we had a nice HEA and I could easily see myself reading the rest of the books in this series.
February 24, 2020
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
I read and enjoyed a couple of books by Jay Hogan last year, so I was more than happy to jump into Powder & Pavlova, the first book in her Southern Lights series of m/m romances set in and around Queenstown, New Zealand. This is a May/December story featuring a pair of engaging and well-rounded protagonists whose flaws make them seem all the more real, and their romance is a gorgeous slow-burn, full of chemistry that fizzes and pops every time they’re together on the page. Powder & Pavlova is charming, sexy and poignant; funny at one moment, heart-breaking the next, and I loved every minute of it.
Twenty-three-year-old Ethan Sharpe planned to travel for a year or so when he left school, intending to use the time away to figure out what he wanted to do with his life before returning home to Queenstown. But that one year became two; two became three, then four… until Ethan received a phone call six months before the book opens and he discovered his mother had terminal cancer and just a few months left to live. Now, just months after her death, Ethan is spending most of his time trying to keep the café she’d loved from going under and trying to do the best for his sixteen-year-old brother Kurt, whose grades are nose-diving at school and whose teenage attitude and snark always rub Ethan the wrong way. Ethan recognises his brother is hurting, but so is he; and it hurts even more when he remembers how he’d thought that he and Kurt would be there for each other – yet now he can’t seem to do anything right.
Tanner Carpenter is a former champion snowboarder whose career ended due to injury fourteen earlier, and who has never been near the snow since. He now works for a PR company that is looking to extend its profile and snag some contracts in the sports arena – rugby and snowsports specifically – and he’s in Queenstown for five months, heading up a small team whose brief is to test the market and come up with a pitch for contracts in the next Audi Quattro Winter Games. He noticed Ethan in the kitchen of the local coffee shop when he was on an office coffee run – and now makes a point of doing the runs himself; after all, nothing says ‘team culture’ more than the boss pitching in and getting the coffee in.
Well, that’s his excuse and he’s sticking to it.
Ethan has noticed Tanner, too, but the hot, almost-silver fox with the devastating smile and maturity and confidence painted all over him is way out of his league – and even if he wasn’t, Ethan doesn’t have time for dating or anything else. But the next time Tanner comes into the café, he engages Ethan in an unmistakeably flirtatious conversation and Ethan can’t help but flirt back; the sparks really do fly between them right from the start, and flirtation soon turns into a genuine friendship. Both men acknowledge the strength of the attraction they feel towards each other, but agree not to cross the boundary between friendship and something more. Ethan has his hands full trying to keep the café’s head above water and Tanner will be returning to his life in Auckland in a few months, so getting in any deeper is a terrible idea.
The trouble is, of course, that there comes a point when friendship isn’t enough for either of them. Even as the friendship the couple decides is all they can allow themselves grows and deepens, the author is showing readers how absolutely in tune they are; even as they recognise that they’re asking for trouble by embarking on a relationship, she’s showing us that they’re perfect for one another romantically – and the emotional connection she creates between them simply leaps off the page.
I generally enjoy May/December romances, although it’s not every author who can pull it off successfully and achieve the right balance of youth and maturity in the make-up of both characters to make the relationship believable, but Jay Hogan does it extremely well here. Ethan has a lot on his young shoulders; he’s still grieving his mother, he feels guilty about not being what his brother needs, and even more guilty about the possibility of failure when it comes to his mother’s business. Tanner is fifteen years older and more settled, even though he has his own fears and insecurities to overcome. I loved that these guys are so supportive of each other, and that even when they disagree, they’re strong enough and mature enough to admit when they get something wrong, further strengthening the bond between them.
The relationships between Ethan and his friends, Adrian (the mysteriously tight-lipped barista – I hope he’s getting his own book!) and Lucy, are well written, and the sibling relationship between Ethan and Kurt is skilfully handled. Even though we don’t get Kurt’s PoV, the author is able to convey his hurt and frustration so well that it’s easy to empathise with him, even when he’s behaving like a shit towards Ethan, and I was rooting for them to repair the damage and get things between them back on track.
This review wouldn’t be complete without my mentioning the mouth-watering food and desserts Ethan and his team regularly prepare, or the wonderful descriptions of the South Island scenery; the view across Lake Wakatipu, the snowy mountains and the Aurora Australis, for instance, which all made me want to look up the price of a plane ticket!
Funny, sexy, sweet and touching, Powder & Pavlova made me smile and it made me cry, and I was so captivated by it that I raced through it in a couple of sittings. Jay Hogan has earned a place on my list of ‘must read’ authors, and I’m really looking forward to the next instalment in the Southern Lights series.
I read and enjoyed a couple of books by Jay Hogan last year, so I was more than happy to jump into Powder & Pavlova, the first book in her Southern Lights series of m/m romances set in and around Queenstown, New Zealand. This is a May/December story featuring a pair of engaging and well-rounded protagonists whose flaws make them seem all the more real, and their romance is a gorgeous slow-burn, full of chemistry that fizzes and pops every time they’re together on the page. Powder & Pavlova is charming, sexy and poignant; funny at one moment, heart-breaking the next, and I loved every minute of it.
Twenty-three-year-old Ethan Sharpe planned to travel for a year or so when he left school, intending to use the time away to figure out what he wanted to do with his life before returning home to Queenstown. But that one year became two; two became three, then four… until Ethan received a phone call six months before the book opens and he discovered his mother had terminal cancer and just a few months left to live. Now, just months after her death, Ethan is spending most of his time trying to keep the café she’d loved from going under and trying to do the best for his sixteen-year-old brother Kurt, whose grades are nose-diving at school and whose teenage attitude and snark always rub Ethan the wrong way. Ethan recognises his brother is hurting, but so is he; and it hurts even more when he remembers how he’d thought that he and Kurt would be there for each other – yet now he can’t seem to do anything right.
Tanner Carpenter is a former champion snowboarder whose career ended due to injury fourteen earlier, and who has never been near the snow since. He now works for a PR company that is looking to extend its profile and snag some contracts in the sports arena – rugby and snowsports specifically – and he’s in Queenstown for five months, heading up a small team whose brief is to test the market and come up with a pitch for contracts in the next Audi Quattro Winter Games. He noticed Ethan in the kitchen of the local coffee shop when he was on an office coffee run – and now makes a point of doing the runs himself; after all, nothing says ‘team culture’ more than the boss pitching in and getting the coffee in.
Well, that’s his excuse and he’s sticking to it.
Ethan has noticed Tanner, too, but the hot, almost-silver fox with the devastating smile and maturity and confidence painted all over him is way out of his league – and even if he wasn’t, Ethan doesn’t have time for dating or anything else. But the next time Tanner comes into the café, he engages Ethan in an unmistakeably flirtatious conversation and Ethan can’t help but flirt back; the sparks really do fly between them right from the start, and flirtation soon turns into a genuine friendship. Both men acknowledge the strength of the attraction they feel towards each other, but agree not to cross the boundary between friendship and something more. Ethan has his hands full trying to keep the café’s head above water and Tanner will be returning to his life in Auckland in a few months, so getting in any deeper is a terrible idea.
The trouble is, of course, that there comes a point when friendship isn’t enough for either of them. Even as the friendship the couple decides is all they can allow themselves grows and deepens, the author is showing readers how absolutely in tune they are; even as they recognise that they’re asking for trouble by embarking on a relationship, she’s showing us that they’re perfect for one another romantically – and the emotional connection she creates between them simply leaps off the page.
I generally enjoy May/December romances, although it’s not every author who can pull it off successfully and achieve the right balance of youth and maturity in the make-up of both characters to make the relationship believable, but Jay Hogan does it extremely well here. Ethan has a lot on his young shoulders; he’s still grieving his mother, he feels guilty about not being what his brother needs, and even more guilty about the possibility of failure when it comes to his mother’s business. Tanner is fifteen years older and more settled, even though he has his own fears and insecurities to overcome. I loved that these guys are so supportive of each other, and that even when they disagree, they’re strong enough and mature enough to admit when they get something wrong, further strengthening the bond between them.
The relationships between Ethan and his friends, Adrian (the mysteriously tight-lipped barista – I hope he’s getting his own book!) and Lucy, are well written, and the sibling relationship between Ethan and Kurt is skilfully handled. Even though we don’t get Kurt’s PoV, the author is able to convey his hurt and frustration so well that it’s easy to empathise with him, even when he’s behaving like a shit towards Ethan, and I was rooting for them to repair the damage and get things between them back on track.
This review wouldn’t be complete without my mentioning the mouth-watering food and desserts Ethan and his team regularly prepare, or the wonderful descriptions of the South Island scenery; the view across Lake Wakatipu, the snowy mountains and the Aurora Australis, for instance, which all made me want to look up the price of a plane ticket!
Funny, sexy, sweet and touching, Powder & Pavlova made me smile and it made me cry, and I was so captivated by it that I raced through it in a couple of sittings. Jay Hogan has earned a place on my list of ‘must read’ authors, and I’m really looking forward to the next instalment in the Southern Lights series.
March 24, 2023
Enjoyed this one. Not quite as much as Jay's other reads, but it's the first of a new series, and book 2 Tamarillo Tart features a very sassy femme character...can't wait to read it. Maybe I'll have to consider a Jay Hogan bookshelf sooner rather than later 😉...
October 22, 2020
I don't know... I really don't know.
For a while in the middle it felt like this book was a thousand pages long. But I loved the beginning and the ending. I love seeing Ethan and Kurt's relationship as brothers taking every twist and turn until it finally bloomed. And I really, really liked Tanner, until the big break up scene happened (no it's not a spoiler, you all know it was going to come).
My biggest problem was all the info dumps. That it was more telling than showing at times. But yeah, pretty much I don't know.
For a while in the middle it felt like this book was a thousand pages long. But I loved the beginning and the ending. I love seeing Ethan and Kurt's relationship as brothers taking every twist and turn until it finally bloomed. And I really, really liked Tanner, until the big break up scene happened (no it's not a spoiler, you all know it was going to come).
My biggest problem was all the info dumps. That it was more telling than showing at times. But yeah, pretty much I don't know.
June 27, 2025
While I didn’t love love this - I did enjoy it and I’m excited for the rest of the series!
January 24, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Powder and Pavlova starts the new Southern Lights series from author Jay Hogan. I was so excited to hear that the author not only has a new book, but a new series. I have enjoyed all of her books, with one making my best of list this past year. From the start with this book though, the overall set-up didn’t grab me.
Ethan is completely stressed out, his brother is not doing well, and he’s not looking for a hookup. Since Tanner is leaving town soon, they decide to become friends, but it was already more than that. Tanner is busy and focused on getting his project going. His business is a distant second choice from where he wanted to be and he may be finally ready to come to terms with that. The setting in New Zealand is great as there aren’t a lot of books set there, and the writing is still great, but it didn’t engage me as much as I was expecting.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Powder and Pavlova starts the new Southern Lights series from author Jay Hogan. I was so excited to hear that the author not only has a new book, but a new series. I have enjoyed all of her books, with one making my best of list this past year. From the start with this book though, the overall set-up didn’t grab me.
Ethan is completely stressed out, his brother is not doing well, and he’s not looking for a hookup. Since Tanner is leaving town soon, they decide to become friends, but it was already more than that. Tanner is busy and focused on getting his project going. His business is a distant second choice from where he wanted to be and he may be finally ready to come to terms with that. The setting in New Zealand is great as there aren’t a lot of books set there, and the writing is still great, but it didn’t engage me as much as I was expecting.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
Read
March 28, 2021DNF 20%
I really struggled with the writing style.
Figured I shouldn’t made myself continue.
I really struggled with the writing style.
Figured I shouldn’t made myself continue.
September 14, 2021
4,5 stars.
Well, this was a very sweet read!
To be honest, it was a bit too insta-love for my liking, but it did feel real and as contradicting as it may sound, it also felt like a slow-burning, so it wasn't too hard to accept. All in all, it was a story that gave me all the warm and fluffy feelings and sometimes that's all a story needs to do. This was my first read by Jay Hogan, but certainly not my last. I really enjoy the way she writes!
Despite all the warm and fluffy feelings, this story was not all about the nice and easy things in life. The struggle Ethan went through after his mother died felt like real life. His fight to keep the cafe open (for one moment I was afraid the bad guy, who was determined to not give him a chance, would play a too big part in the story, but fortunately he didn't), his strayed relationship with his younger brother Kurt and his grief...Instead of taking the easy way out, Jay Hogan allowed her MC's to make mistakes, to hurt and admit that they were wrong, and then pick up the pieces and try to do better. It wasn't like some sort of miracle healed everything and that made it feel all too real, which I really liked about this book.
Tanner and Ethan were a great couple together, despite both having their problems with their difference in age. It took Tanner a bit longer to get over that than Ethan, but they did have great chemistry. I think he was exactly what Ethan needed to feel safe and anchored again. And in exchange for that, Ethan gave Tanner the confidence to fight his own demons from his past. They really had to fight for the HEA, but there was no unnecessary drama added. The decisions they had to make in order to have a life together, weren't easy to make for neither of them and that made it all seem more realistic.
I added the rest of Jay Hogan's back catalogue to my TBR; even after only one book I can tell she will fast become one of my favorite authors.
Highly recommend this one!
Well, this was a very sweet read!
To be honest, it was a bit too insta-love for my liking, but it did feel real and as contradicting as it may sound, it also felt like a slow-burning, so it wasn't too hard to accept. All in all, it was a story that gave me all the warm and fluffy feelings and sometimes that's all a story needs to do. This was my first read by Jay Hogan, but certainly not my last. I really enjoy the way she writes!
Despite all the warm and fluffy feelings, this story was not all about the nice and easy things in life. The struggle Ethan went through after his mother died felt like real life. His fight to keep the cafe open (for one moment I was afraid the bad guy, who was determined to not give him a chance, would play a too big part in the story, but fortunately he didn't), his strayed relationship with his younger brother Kurt and his grief...Instead of taking the easy way out, Jay Hogan allowed her MC's to make mistakes, to hurt and admit that they were wrong, and then pick up the pieces and try to do better. It wasn't like some sort of miracle healed everything and that made it feel all too real, which I really liked about this book.
Tanner and Ethan were a great couple together, despite both having their problems with their difference in age. It took Tanner a bit longer to get over that than Ethan, but they did have great chemistry. I think he was exactly what Ethan needed to feel safe and anchored again. And in exchange for that, Ethan gave Tanner the confidence to fight his own demons from his past. They really had to fight for the HEA, but there was no unnecessary drama added. The decisions they had to make in order to have a life together, weren't easy to make for neither of them and that made it all seem more realistic.
I added the rest of Jay Hogan's back catalogue to my TBR; even after only one book I can tell she will fast become one of my favorite authors.
Highly recommend this one!
August 6, 2021
This is not really a romance
If you like 10 pages of internal dialogue to ever 1 page of actual dialogue, this is the book for you. I HAD to skim.
Tanner wants to take it slow with Ethan. That’s an odd concept for someone that’s only going to be in town for 5 more months. It’s already SLOW. Lol. I’m ready to give up at 25% in.
Ethan is an owner of a cafe he inherited that’s about to go under. Tanner is a business man in town for a short while. 15 year age gap. Age gap is kinda my favorite but the chemistry between these characters was a bit off to me. Maybe because there was a bit of a passive aggressive push and pull I really wasn’t keen on.
This book definitely is not a romance. It’s more about a book on grief and how to not deal with it. AND it’s painfully long. I made it to 41%. Both MCs are still avoiding each other. Kisses have been had but not much else. Passive aggressive relationships just don’t do it for me. Should I continue??? It’s got to get better right?!?
They finally have sex but the sex banter was awkward. These characters have no chemistry and I’m honestly not sure why I’m still reading this.
Plus, the brother relationship was super bad. Kurt was a super pissy teenager brimming with angst and anger. Rightfully so AND there was no real communication at all between the brothers until almost the very end. This relationship was also passive aggressive. Ugh.
I think I’ll just skim until the end to see if anyone is happy at the end. It ends ok BUT only after putting Ethan through hell for 10 weeks because Tanner was selfish and an idiot. White knight , sure.
Ugh. This author is not for me! Moving on…
If you like 10 pages of internal dialogue to ever 1 page of actual dialogue, this is the book for you. I HAD to skim.
Tanner wants to take it slow with Ethan. That’s an odd concept for someone that’s only going to be in town for 5 more months. It’s already SLOW. Lol. I’m ready to give up at 25% in.
Ethan is an owner of a cafe he inherited that’s about to go under. Tanner is a business man in town for a short while. 15 year age gap. Age gap is kinda my favorite but the chemistry between these characters was a bit off to me. Maybe because there was a bit of a passive aggressive push and pull I really wasn’t keen on.
This book definitely is not a romance. It’s more about a book on grief and how to not deal with it. AND it’s painfully long. I made it to 41%. Both MCs are still avoiding each other. Kisses have been had but not much else. Passive aggressive relationships just don’t do it for me. Should I continue??? It’s got to get better right?!?
They finally have sex but the sex banter was awkward. These characters have no chemistry and I’m honestly not sure why I’m still reading this.
Plus, the brother relationship was super bad. Kurt was a super pissy teenager brimming with angst and anger. Rightfully so AND there was no real communication at all between the brothers until almost the very end. This relationship was also passive aggressive. Ugh.
I think I’ll just skim until the end to see if anyone is happy at the end. It ends ok BUT only after putting Ethan through hell for 10 weeks because Tanner was selfish and an idiot. White knight , sure.
Ugh. This author is not for me! Moving on…
November 14, 2023
It's a sweet and sexy with a twist new series by Jay Hogan. Hogan seems to have a flair for bringing stories alive and allowing the listener, or the reader, to become a part of them. and her world-building is always something to look forward to. In this first book, we meet Ethan Sharpe, a man struggling under the weight of grief and obligation from his mother’s passing due to terminal cancer, and a crippling guilt that he left home and wasn’t around to help or be with her until shortly before her death. His younger brother, Kurt, will never let Ethan forget that he abandoned them in their time of need. He’s angry and blows up at the easiest target, which is Ethan, who is doing everything he can to keep his mother’s bakery & coffee shop going out of a sense of duty and a bit of guilt. This is all compounded by the dire state of the bakery and the disintegrating relationship with his younger brother. I was afraid this entire story was going to drown in angst and sorrow, but I was pleasantly surprised that that was not in any way, the case. Ethan soon meets Tanner carpenter a former snowboarder champion who is in town to settle a contract for his company and his time there was just enough for him to fall in love with the coffee shop owner...and just enough time to break both their hearts when his time was up, and he had to return home. There are also some other wrinkles thrown into the story...a significant age gap for one and Tanner's other life that he didn't think could ever include Ethan. This isn't a light story but it's only on the heavy side for a short time... just enough time to almost break your heart. I have to admit that I nearly stopped listening to it, but I knew that Jay Hogan has never left her readers with too much emotional baggage, and she didn't this time either. I really liked how everyone got a HEA ending....and a great cup of their special coffee.
May 18, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧🎧🎧
BR with my girl Cass
Super cute age gap!
Ethan’s mother just died and he’s juggling to keep his distraught brother on the straight and narrow while trying to run his mother’s cafe. Both are entirely easier said than done.
Which makes older man and prior snowboarder Tanner an awesome distraction. But what happens when that distraction becomes another problem. When it started out as no strings attached and you fall head over heels?
I love this writer’s bantering, the chemistry between these men is on fire from the get go. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, what more could you ask for?
I felt so bad for Kurt, he was struggling so much and I thought he was so misunderstood by his brother. Then when he dropped his bomb in the last quarter, it was something else to land on Ethan’s shoulder.
It was pretty easy getting drawn into this world. I’m looking forward to Adrian’s book and I can’t wait for Kurt’s.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧🎧🎧
BR with my girl Cass
Super cute age gap!
Ethan’s mother just died and he’s juggling to keep his distraught brother on the straight and narrow while trying to run his mother’s cafe. Both are entirely easier said than done.
Which makes older man and prior snowboarder Tanner an awesome distraction. But what happens when that distraction becomes another problem. When it started out as no strings attached and you fall head over heels?
I love this writer’s bantering, the chemistry between these men is on fire from the get go. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, what more could you ask for?
I felt so bad for Kurt, he was struggling so much and I thought he was so misunderstood by his brother. Then when he dropped his bomb in the last quarter, it was something else to land on Ethan’s shoulder.
It was pretty easy getting drawn into this world. I’m looking forward to Adrian’s book and I can’t wait for Kurt’s.
November 7, 2020
An age gap, M/M romance !
Australia is full of excitement. Ethan, 22,
and his younger brother, are in rough times after their Mom dies. Ethan has thrown himself into salvaging her business, baking to exhaustion daily. Teen Toby is not doing well in school and the two are not getting along.
Into the shop comes good looking, suit wearing, Tanner, 37,
a former snowboard champion.
Each man feels the sizzle in the air, but Tanner will only be here five months for a work project., and Ethan has no time for fun, with a failing business and other issues.
Tanner keeps getting closer and the two men really click. Each one has issues, we learn more about them, and they agree to a whirlwind affair, but passionate emotions change the temperature. Epic sexy times are so special, neither man has ever had anything like it. High heat.
With intermittent problems on both sides, love has entered the picture.
How will they solve the distance factor.
It’s a busy tale, much has happened, guilt and grief are tackled, school bullying, and work and family come into play.
A wonderful epilogue.
Enjoy !
======
Australia is full of excitement. Ethan, 22,
and his younger brother, are in rough times after their Mom dies. Ethan has thrown himself into salvaging her business, baking to exhaustion daily. Teen Toby is not doing well in school and the two are not getting along.
Into the shop comes good looking, suit wearing, Tanner, 37,
a former snowboard champion.
Each man feels the sizzle in the air, but Tanner will only be here five months for a work project., and Ethan has no time for fun, with a failing business and other issues.
Tanner keeps getting closer and the two men really click. Each one has issues, we learn more about them, and they agree to a whirlwind affair, but passionate emotions change the temperature. Epic sexy times are so special, neither man has ever had anything like it. High heat.
With intermittent problems on both sides, love has entered the picture.
How will they solve the distance factor.
It’s a busy tale, much has happened, guilt and grief are tackled, school bullying, and work and family come into play.
A wonderful epilogue.
Enjoy !
======
April 29, 2021
Overall book rating: 4
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.5
Yeah so I'm in a BADDDD reading slump. One of epic proportions. I can't seem to get my touch into it this year.
So I'm giving this one 4 simply because I enjoyed it for what it was. The moment was right and it worked and that makes me happy. I don't really need to give any more reason than that so there.
;-) Also, first Jay Hogan and I'll be keeping my eye out. I liked it
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.5
Yeah so I'm in a BADDDD reading slump. One of epic proportions. I can't seem to get my touch into it this year.
So I'm giving this one 4 simply because I enjoyed it for what it was. The moment was right and it worked and that makes me happy. I don't really need to give any more reason than that so there.
;-) Also, first Jay Hogan and I'll be keeping my eye out. I liked it
January 25, 2020
Tanner and Ethan
After four years of traveling, Ethan got back home for the worst reason.
And now it’s just him and his younger brother Kurt. Ethan, still grieving, has to take care of him and work hard to run the cafe she left him. And business is going down, fast.
Kurt is hurt but also angry, at Ethan. Their relationship is going bad.
Then there is Tanner a somewhat older guy who is in town for business for some months.
They start something good and both know it can’t last.
But the months go by and their connection is getting stronger. And the end is near.
So that’s the story in a nut.
There is so much story. Heartfelt emotions with Kurt and Ethan. Strong loving emotions with Tanner. There is fun, jokes, great humor, and sexiness. There are fights, tears, and grief. There is goodbye. A wonderfully written emotional story that was very touching.
A great development of character and environments and a catching story!
After four years of traveling, Ethan got back home for the worst reason.
And now it’s just him and his younger brother Kurt. Ethan, still grieving, has to take care of him and work hard to run the cafe she left him. And business is going down, fast.
Kurt is hurt but also angry, at Ethan. Their relationship is going bad.
Then there is Tanner a somewhat older guy who is in town for business for some months.
They start something good and both know it can’t last.
But the months go by and their connection is getting stronger. And the end is near.
So that’s the story in a nut.
There is so much story. Heartfelt emotions with Kurt and Ethan. Strong loving emotions with Tanner. There is fun, jokes, great humor, and sexiness. There are fights, tears, and grief. There is goodbye. A wonderfully written emotional story that was very touching.
A great development of character and environments and a catching story!
January 27, 2020
Another DELIGHTFUL read from Jay Hogan (I think I've added her to my auto-watch author list).
I loved the chemistry between Ethan (who is gay - and yes that's how he introduced himself to Tanner *lol*) and Tanner. Their interaction is SO MUCH FUN TO READ! The supporting characters are joy to read as well, from Ethan's teenage brother Kurt, to his grumpy barista Adrian, to his other sassy employee Lucy, to Tanner's best friend Stefan.
The conflict feels real and well-rounded. Ethan's guilt and struggle dealing with Kurt. Tanner's business that makes his living situation at Queenstown temporary. The looming separation. It doesn't feel forced at all
AND I LOVED THE ENDING!!! I'm a sucker for that kind of scene :p
I loved the chemistry between Ethan (who is gay - and yes that's how he introduced himself to Tanner *lol*) and Tanner. Their interaction is SO MUCH FUN TO READ! The supporting characters are joy to read as well, from Ethan's teenage brother Kurt, to his grumpy barista Adrian, to his other sassy employee Lucy, to Tanner's best friend Stefan.
The conflict feels real and well-rounded. Ethan's guilt and struggle dealing with Kurt. Tanner's business that makes his living situation at Queenstown temporary. The looming separation. It doesn't feel forced at all
AND I LOVED THE ENDING!!! I'm a sucker for that kind of scene :p
June 14, 2024
Maybe it was me and not the book. Potential unpopular opinion ahead:
Idk if I’ve ever had to work so hard to get to 50% of a book. This felt like it took weeks to get there. Even after all that, I still have no idea what it was that Tanner did for a job. Was he a PR person? Advertising? Promotions? Marketing? It was all so boring. Maybe that’s why I don’t know – because it wasn’t interesting enough for me to care.
The relationship between Tanner and Ethan didn’t hold my interest. Ethan seemed whiny when I should have felt empathy for him. I didn’t feel any connection between him and Tanner. The most interesting part of what I read was the relationship between Ethan and his brother Kurt. Other than that, I didn’t care.
So, yeah. This didn’t work for me at all. 🥱😴
Idk if I’ve ever had to work so hard to get to 50% of a book. This felt like it took weeks to get there. Even after all that, I still have no idea what it was that Tanner did for a job. Was he a PR person? Advertising? Promotions? Marketing? It was all so boring. Maybe that’s why I don’t know – because it wasn’t interesting enough for me to care.
The relationship between Tanner and Ethan didn’t hold my interest. Ethan seemed whiny when I should have felt empathy for him. I didn’t feel any connection between him and Tanner. The most interesting part of what I read was the relationship between Ethan and his brother Kurt. Other than that, I didn’t care.
So, yeah. This didn’t work for me at all. 🥱😴
May 19, 2020
Despite a pretty instant attraction, this story moved slowly and organically enough for the romance to feel real. Ethan spent four years traveling the world after high school, trying to find himself, with a lot of fast sex but not a lot of self-discovery along the way. Then his mother revealed that she had cancer, and six months later he finds himself home, trying to keep her beloved cafe running, and big-brothering a fifteen-year-old who resents Ethan for being gone when he was needed and missed at home.
To make matters worse, the cafe is on its financial last legs, with a landlord eager to see it gone. Ethan doesn't really have time or energy for a relationship, but he sure could use someone on his side. That's hardly fair to a prospective date, though, so Ethan doesn't date right now.
Tanner was a champion snowboarder, until a bad spill wrecked his knee beyond repair. It's mostly healed, but he has spent sixteen years avoiding the slopes and any memory of who he once was. Until now, when he's agreed to let his past celebrity open doors for his athletic team PR and support business. He's in Queenstown to do the job, hook his people up with the new generation of athletes, and go home. He's not looking for romance - especially a guy fifteen years his junior - and he plans to stay well away from the slopes.
But when Tanner and Ethan meet, their attraction is fast and hot. What would it hurt, for two gay men to give themselves just a little time out of their demanding lives to hang out? And if Tanner can help a young man with way too much on his plate, what's wrong with that? Before too long, they're in deeper than they'd planned.
The secondary characters in this are varied and interesting, particularly Adrian, the barista. The younger brother felt realistic. I enjoyed the Local setting and I was glad that saving the cafe wasn't some simple thing. The plot held together. There's some angst, but not as much as there might have been with the issues both men were dealing with. I didn't fall hard for these two, but I enjoyed their story, and will read the next one.
To make matters worse, the cafe is on its financial last legs, with a landlord eager to see it gone. Ethan doesn't really have time or energy for a relationship, but he sure could use someone on his side. That's hardly fair to a prospective date, though, so Ethan doesn't date right now.
Tanner was a champion snowboarder, until a bad spill wrecked his knee beyond repair. It's mostly healed, but he has spent sixteen years avoiding the slopes and any memory of who he once was. Until now, when he's agreed to let his past celebrity open doors for his athletic team PR and support business. He's in Queenstown to do the job, hook his people up with the new generation of athletes, and go home. He's not looking for romance - especially a guy fifteen years his junior - and he plans to stay well away from the slopes.
But when Tanner and Ethan meet, their attraction is fast and hot. What would it hurt, for two gay men to give themselves just a little time out of their demanding lives to hang out? And if Tanner can help a young man with way too much on his plate, what's wrong with that? Before too long, they're in deeper than they'd planned.
The secondary characters in this are varied and interesting, particularly Adrian, the barista. The younger brother felt realistic. I enjoyed the Local setting and I was glad that saving the cafe wasn't some simple thing. The plot held together. There's some angst, but not as much as there might have been with the issues both men were dealing with. I didn't fall hard for these two, but I enjoyed their story, and will read the next one.
December 3, 2024
I really, really enjoyed this book! I definitely have a slight obsession with any story set in New Zealand (or Australia) and again I was so envious of the amazing scenery surrounding these characters.
The plot was engaging and it was interesting to see how two brothers dealt with the grief of losing their mother to terminal illness, plus Ethan, who is only 23, then has to step into a parental type role with his 16 year old brother Kurt. The strain on their relationship felt so realistic, the arguments made sense, and Kurt really felt like he was written as a teenager who was going off the rails which was really refreshing - I hate when really young character's don't seem to act their age! Kurt's revelation also had me emotional and the way the brothers repair their relationship was heartwarming to follow.
Ethan and Tanner had such great chemistry from the moment they met, and they're both working through huge changes in their own lives. I was shouting at Tanner to pull his head out of his arse already!!! I laughed and cried throughout this whole book and I loved the way Ethan, and also Kurt, found a way to move forward that made them happy and also honoured their mother's legacy and her wishes for them to be happy.
The plot was engaging and it was interesting to see how two brothers dealt with the grief of losing their mother to terminal illness, plus Ethan, who is only 23, then has to step into a parental type role with his 16 year old brother Kurt. The strain on their relationship felt so realistic, the arguments made sense, and Kurt really felt like he was written as a teenager who was going off the rails which was really refreshing - I hate when really young character's don't seem to act their age! Kurt's revelation also had me emotional and the way the brothers repair their relationship was heartwarming to follow.
Ethan and Tanner had such great chemistry from the moment they met, and they're both working through huge changes in their own lives. I was shouting at Tanner to pull his head out of his arse already!!! I laughed and cried throughout this whole book and I loved the way Ethan, and also Kurt, found a way to move forward that made them happy and also honoured their mother's legacy and her wishes for them to be happy.
August 12, 2022
3.5 rounded up
Messy age-gap romance.
Job shit, family, true friends.
Fun armchair travel.
December 1, 2020
I read this on the back of the outstanding Off Balance and I was not as enamoured by the MCs in this book as I was Judah and Morgan, and there were absolute similarities to compare. There was a career-ending injury sustained by one, there was a slow burn romance, "dimples" are something to adore. There's also one MC who's not going to stay in town permanently, there are nice secondary characters who would do absolutely anything for their friends and have sage advice or are quirky. They're also both lengthy for contemporary romances. There's the outwardly angry but inwardly loving brother, and this (seeming) trademark one word choppy/staccato sentence of the authors that works occasionally but not in (close to) back-to-back reading. Oh. My. God. But. Fuck. Me. What. The. Fuck. I made those up, but you get my drift. I just couldn't help but compare the two books and this is the poorer cousin, in my opinion.
I find this book incredibly hard to rate. It's not a bad book. It's very down to earth. It's niiiiice, but nice isn't always a good thing for me. I tend toward something with a twist, a kick, teeth, something that really pulls emotion from me. This wasn't any of those things. The beginning and the ending are good, and there are some occasions of pleasant and interesting bits in between, but I skimmed the sex and I skimmed some of the detail because it just didn't grab me or make me feel invested. There was too much about Kurt - I'm not a 'younger family in my reading' kind of gal.
The positives are the age gap, do love that. The overall writing is niiiiice. Niiiiice characters. Niiiiice setting. Niiiiice sex served with humour, it isn't my thing unless it's in an offbeat book, but it's niiiiice, the overall story mostly light and breezy.
I've earmarked the next two books in this series to read because I'm hoping for something that I connect with like Off Balance, but maybe that's not this series. Maybe this series is just light and fun and perky? And there is nothing wrong with that. It's me being a tough crowd. If I'm poked - and after slapping that person's finger - I'd probably rate this around 3 - 3.5 stars.
I find this book incredibly hard to rate. It's not a bad book. It's very down to earth. It's niiiiice, but nice isn't always a good thing for me. I tend toward something with a twist, a kick, teeth, something that really pulls emotion from me. This wasn't any of those things. The beginning and the ending are good, and there are some occasions of pleasant and interesting bits in between, but I skimmed the sex and I skimmed some of the detail because it just didn't grab me or make me feel invested. There was too much about Kurt - I'm not a 'younger family in my reading' kind of gal.
The positives are the age gap, do love that. The overall writing is niiiiice. Niiiiice characters. Niiiiice setting. Niiiiice sex served with humour, it isn't my thing unless it's in an offbeat book, but it's niiiiice, the overall story mostly light and breezy.
I've earmarked the next two books in this series to read because I'm hoping for something that I connect with like Off Balance, but maybe that's not this series. Maybe this series is just light and fun and perky? And there is nothing wrong with that. It's me being a tough crowd. If I'm poked - and after slapping that person's finger - I'd probably rate this around 3 - 3.5 stars.
March 3, 2022
Update 02.03.2022
Nie mam teraz głowy do czytania i skupiania się na nowych historiach, to sięgnęłam po coś, co znam i uwielbiam.
Po ponownym przeczytaniu... uwielbiam niezmiennie 💙
* * * * * * *
Mała, urokliwa mieścina w Nowej Zelandii, dwóch fantastycznych głównych bohaterów i świetny drugi plan.
Slow-burn ze sporą ilością humoru, z przyjacielskimi i czułymi przekomarzaniami, z kilkoma dobrze wyważonymi poważnymi czy smutnymi momentami, które łapią za serducho, ale nie przytłaczają, tylko dodają realności - zarówno do związku Ethana i Tannera, jak i do historii rodzinnej. Chemia między chłopakami wyczuwalna z dużej odległości, sceny seksu gorące, ale i często zabawne, ich rozwijające się uczucie zdecydowanie dobrze i fajnie pokazane. Nawet to niemalże "obowiązkowe" rozstanie jest prawdziwe, nie zrobione na siłę i tak naprawdę nie ma się przy nim do kogo przyczepić, ani nie można za nie nikogo obwiniać, można tylko czekać na satysfakcjonujące wszystkich rozwiązanie - bo przecież mimo wszystko musi jakieś być, prawda? 😉
Emocjonalna na tak różnych poziomach, świetna historia, która wcale nie jest płaska i skupiona tylko na jednym wątku. Nawet się nie zastanawiam, tylko lecę do historii Stefana - przyjaciela Tannera, miejskiego do szpiku kości chłopaka, królowej dramatu, który jakimś cudem musiał wylądować w Queenstown lub okolicy i niezmiernie jestem ciekawa, jak to się stało 😁
Nie mam teraz głowy do czytania i skupiania się na nowych historiach, to sięgnęłam po coś, co znam i uwielbiam.
Po ponownym przeczytaniu... uwielbiam niezmiennie 💙
* * * * * * *
Mała, urokliwa mieścina w Nowej Zelandii, dwóch fantastycznych głównych bohaterów i świetny drugi plan.
Slow-burn ze sporą ilością humoru, z przyjacielskimi i czułymi przekomarzaniami, z kilkoma dobrze wyważonymi poważnymi czy smutnymi momentami, które łapią za serducho, ale nie przytłaczają, tylko dodają realności - zarówno do związku Ethana i Tannera, jak i do historii rodzinnej. Chemia między chłopakami wyczuwalna z dużej odległości, sceny seksu gorące, ale i często zabawne, ich rozwijające się uczucie zdecydowanie dobrze i fajnie pokazane. Nawet to niemalże "obowiązkowe" rozstanie jest prawdziwe, nie zrobione na siłę i tak naprawdę nie ma się przy nim do kogo przyczepić, ani nie można za nie nikogo obwiniać, można tylko czekać na satysfakcjonujące wszystkich rozwiązanie - bo przecież mimo wszystko musi jakieś być, prawda? 😉
Emocjonalna na tak różnych poziomach, świetna historia, która wcale nie jest płaska i skupiona tylko na jednym wątku. Nawet się nie zastanawiam, tylko lecę do historii Stefana - przyjaciela Tannera, miejskiego do szpiku kości chłopaka, królowej dramatu, który jakimś cudem musiał wylądować w Queenstown lub okolicy i niezmiernie jestem ciekawa, jak to się stało 😁
January 14, 2022
This book is another perfect example why Jay Hogan has become an auto-buy for me. There's something in her storytelling that just seems to "fit".
I love the slow-burn (but boy does it burn hot once we get there, lol) in this relationship. There's an instant attraction but things don't move too fast. They are allowed to grow, which brings an authenticity to the story which I truly appreciate.
The guys aren't perfect, which also aids in making this all feel real. And when the story ended I wanted more (even though there's a gorgeous HEA in the making) which is another perfect reason to give it the 5 stars I did.
I love the slow-burn (but boy does it burn hot once we get there, lol) in this relationship. There's an instant attraction but things don't move too fast. They are allowed to grow, which brings an authenticity to the story which I truly appreciate.
The guys aren't perfect, which also aids in making this all feel real. And when the story ended I wanted more (even though there's a gorgeous HEA in the making) which is another perfect reason to give it the 5 stars I did.
May 8, 2021
Beautiful story about a young man (Ethan) who tried to get his life back in order after his mom died. Just when he was at a very low point in his life, he met Tanner, outwardly successful older man, and they had an immediate connection. However, due to unchangeable circumstances, their knew their romance had a limited lifespan.
Oh my word, this story blew me away. It was an angsty book (and I hate angst as a rule), but it packed an emotional punch - in a good way!! I will not forget this book for a long time.
The writing is so descriptive, it felt like I was there in Queenstown, experiencing the South Island with the characters. I loved it, and now want to visit NZ, pronto (or when the borders opens again, thank you Covid!!) Then the book also contained one of my other pleasures in a book: friends who became family - Ethan is going through a rough time, but his friends got his back: Elle, his firebrand next door neighbour with the colourful language, Lucy, Adrian the barista (and subject of book 3 - can't wait), Kurt and Sidney, it felt like I knew them personally.
And then there was the banter between Ethan and Tanner. Oh my word. One moment I wanted to cry because Ethan lost his mom and that is one of the worst things that can happen to someone, and he had so much troubles, and the next he and Tanner made me laugh out loud with the things they said. Loved it.
The characters grew so much during the story, but it felt organic, never preachy, and I was there every way. I never got bored or lost interest, and I devoured the book over the course of a day.
This book is now one of my favourites of 2021, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Oh my word, this story blew me away. It was an angsty book (and I hate angst as a rule), but it packed an emotional punch - in a good way!! I will not forget this book for a long time.
The writing is so descriptive, it felt like I was there in Queenstown, experiencing the South Island with the characters. I loved it, and now want to visit NZ, pronto (or when the borders opens again, thank you Covid!!) Then the book also contained one of my other pleasures in a book: friends who became family - Ethan is going through a rough time, but his friends got his back: Elle, his firebrand next door neighbour with the colourful language, Lucy, Adrian the barista (and subject of book 3 - can't wait), Kurt and Sidney, it felt like I knew them personally.
And then there was the banter between Ethan and Tanner. Oh my word. One moment I wanted to cry because Ethan lost his mom and that is one of the worst things that can happen to someone, and he had so much troubles, and the next he and Tanner made me laugh out loud with the things they said. Loved it.
The characters grew so much during the story, but it felt organic, never preachy, and I was there every way. I never got bored or lost interest, and I devoured the book over the course of a day.
This book is now one of my favourites of 2021, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
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