Before the Call

Small Town Hearts #2

by Emma Alcott

Rule #1 Don’t fall for the ridiculously hot straight guy
Rule #2 Especially not if he’s your best friend
Rule #3 Extra-especially not when you’re supposed to be his private tutor
Rule #4 Oh, god, but those eyes
Rule #5 Okay, maybe eyes are fine if you don’t look south
Rule #6 Don’t look south
Rule #7 You looked south, didn’t you?
Rule #8 Are you even listening?

Gabe Mitchell isn’t listening. What’s worse, ever since he moved back to the small town he thought he’d left for good, he’s turned into a habitual rule breaker.

Falling for his straight best friend, Clark Summers? Check.
Falling for his straight best friend, Clark Summers, who also happens to be his newest mature student? Check.
And don’t you dare get him started about what’s going on down south, because Gabe doesn’t need to check that to know he’s in deep.

It’s a good thing Clark’s missed him these last four years, and a better thing that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to have Gabe back in his life, because rules are about to be broken. All of them. And Clark’s only rule? The one about being straight? It might just end up broken, too.

Before the Call is the second book in the Small Town Hearts series, which features heroes scattered across the rural United States who find love where they’re least expecting it. In addition to friendship that turns red-hot, you can expect to find generous servings of vanilla ice cream that are anything but vanilla, interesting “tutoring” techniques, a nerd who’s head over heels for the best friend he can’t have, and a jock who loves his Dork even after years apart.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Gay For You, Audiobook, LGBT

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2020

About the author

Should you ever find yourself traveling down the gravel street of a quiet forest community in the Midwest, you may come across Emma Alcott--suburbanite by birth, but small-towner by choice.

Emma loves all things doctors say you should only enjoy in moderation, writing the stories of her heart, and traveling. Once upon a time, she fell in love with a man from another country and moved mountains in order to be with him. They've now been married for half a decade and have far too many fur-children.

Seriously.

Do you want a dog?

To stay up to date with Emma's new releases, follow her on Amazon and be sure to subscribe to her newsletter.

If you love Emma's books, you might also enjoy her work as her alter-ego, Piper Scott!

Reviews

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook- 4 stars I love me some Michael Ferraiuolo but he sounded so bored. 😐
Story- 3 stars

This was okay, I ended up enjoying some parts. 😍 Some not so much. 😫 I wish the secondary background story was well developed. It felt out of place.

The kids on the other hand.. yikes…. They were too many. 😫🤣 I couldn’t keep up.

I liked the mcs. Wish they had more smexy times together.

Anyhoo, I needed fluff, I got some. That’s a tiny win. 🏆

[cal · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh my god this book definitely didn't deserved its brutal ratings. i highly enjoyed it! give me a decent falling for the straight best friend trope and i will go feral. love the characters except the kids of course.

[Barbara➰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabe and Clark have been best friends since their freshman year of high school. They just fit. But being a closeted gay boy and in love with your straight best friend in a small town no less, doesn't make for an easy life. So, when high school is over Gabe packs his bags and moves to the west coast. Everyone's intentions are good, but life gets in the way and they lose touch. But when Gabe has a chance to come back, will he be able to step right back into his relationship with Clark, still closeted and still pining for his one and only true love?

I am loving these sweet, low angst stories from Emma Alcott. They're the kind of feel good stories that just leave you feeling all relaxed and gooey, smiling all day.

I didn't particularly care for Gabe in the beginning, after he graduated college. His thoughts were a little too snarky and funny (which I didn't find funny) for me. He grew on me as the book continued and I ended up really loving him. He stepped in where needed and was good to Clark.

But man, oh man! Clark really stole the show for me. He was so dreamy and swoon-worthy. He melted my heart *sigh* I think every highlight I made was something he said or thought. He was the best big brother to all his siblings. He had to drop out of high school to help his mom out with the kids and the bills but he never complained. He just did what he needed to do. And when he finally realizes he is in love with Gabe, he stops at nothing to make him his. He was absolutely perfect!!

I liked this one slightly less than the first. It tried to be more funny with Gabe's thoughts, I just didn't really find it that funny but that's just me. It was still sweet and feel-good. And oh! All the Mean Girls references...love that movie. There were things that I thought were kind of left "undone" like, there was hardly any interaction between Gabe and his parents yet they lived in the same town? As well as interaction with Clark's mom, almost zero! I just found that a little weird. It was still good and enjoyable and I can't wait for the next one.

I will say, and people will probably come at me with a pitchfork, but I didn't care for Peyton. I don't know why, but she seemed a little too perfect and understanding and I don't know...I just didn't like her. Just my thing though.

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update:
Audiobook reviewed on 03/27/2020

Michael Ferraiuolo narration was phenomenal. His pacing , tone and characters portrayal was en pointe!!!

Original:
Ebook Reviewed on January 27, 2020

 3.5 Stars. Fluffy , Sweet and Hot Romance

Before the Call is a contemporary, friends to lovers, first time gay , GFY , opposite attract, uncomplicated, feel good , gooey and fluffy, funny and entertaining MM, love story with a HEA and a delightful epilogue , few years into the future.

Told from both heroes POV. Gabe is socially awkward dork , a bit neurotic and totally adorable. Clark is a hard working miner, heart of gold man, who had to leave HS to help raise his 7 siblings. And together they make a charming, loveable and credible couple; they're perfect for each other. Their friendship/love tale is low angst , medium on family drama, with plenty of sweet and humorous shenanigans by secondary characters, high on love , friendship and hot AF sexy times.

#BeforeTheCall #ReadOn2020 #ListenedOn2020 #EmmaAlcott #GRR #KU #Audible #Kindle

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Alcott’s newest novel in her standalone Small Town Hearts series, Before the Call, has been released in audio, beautifully performed by Michael Ferraiuolo.

A sweet friends-to-lovers story, Before the Call also touches on a few deeper issues as well. Without spoiling too much, I’ll just say one of the younger brothers is a victim of a cat-fishing predator. Everything turns out okay, plus the entire community rallies around the family in the best of ways.

Michael Ferraiuolo does a wonderful job bringing this one to life. His soothing voice is the perfect way to enjoy Ms. Alcott’s heart-warming story. I highly recommend this one!

an audio copy of Before the Call was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review

[Papie]

DNF at 55%
Something is just missing. I don’t feel the connection between the MCs, and I don’t really care what happens to anyone in this story at this point.

[haletostilinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second installment in what is shaping up to be a lovely series by Emma Alcott a.k.a Piper Scott.

Gabe is a cute, shy, nerdy sweet guy who has been in love with his best friend, muscly and jock-like, kind and loving guy Clarke pretty much since they met in their freshmen year of high school. But Gabe believes Clarke is straight - to be fair, Clarke thinks he is too and so when Gabe graduates, he moves out of state for college to get out of small town Missouri, but Clarke stays in that small town, as he had to drop out when his father dies to help his mother take care of his eight (8!!) siblings as the oldest.

Four years later, a freshly graduated Gabe is having trouble looking for work as at high school math teacher, when his mother calls him letting him know that the small town he left is desperately looking for a math teacher.

Gabe fairly easily gives in, but is scared to see Clarke in case Clarke is mad at him or hates him for not keeping in touch.

But Clarke is as sweet and kind as ever and is just happy to see Gabe again.

They easily fall back into their best friendship, only Gabe is as in love with Gabe as he was back in high school. And in fact, Clarke just might be too, but he's fairly oblivious. Or more accurate, he's demisexual - not straight - and it takes him something like a knock on the head to realize what's been in front of him for years.

This was a sweet, low-angst story about two best friends falling in love and getting their happiness together after some time apart and a little bit of heartbreak.

There's some drama in this, but it has more to do with Clarke's 17 year old brother, Devon, so most of the angst or potential angst is outside their relationship, which I am definitely fine with. A romance book without too much relationship angst is fun and refreshing and a nice breather every once in awhile.

I also loved these two together and they had some sweet and hot moments throughout this and their HEA was adorable and sweet and I loved it.

Can't wait for the next book in this series, I'm really loving reading Piper Scott as Emma Alcott <333

Two thumbs up from me!

[Al *the semi serial series skipper* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had forgotten to review this one , I don't remember much but I know it was such a cute story. Gabe was very sweet and Clark was cute. I typically like my GFY full of angst, this book didn't have that at all. That's the main reason for my rating.

I recommend to people who don't like angst, you'll like this one.

[Marthea · Rating 2 out of 5]

1+
Próbowałam, naprawdę próbowałam. I nawet skończyłam ten tom, tylko trochę przewijając. Ale mam dość, więcej książek tej autorki nie zdzierżę 😕

Styl pisania totalnie mi nie odpowiada. Sposób konstruowania historii czy bohaterów jest słaby, czy wręcz miejscami idiotyczny. Choćby Gabe - nieśmiały, niezdarny, ze społecznymi zaburzeniami lękowymi i problemami z filtrem pomiędzy mózgiem a ustami - miał być zabawny i uroczy. Wygląda na to, że mamy z autorką niezmiernie różne definicje słów "zabawny" i "uroczy" - zdecydowanie bardziej z mojego punktu widzenia idzie to w "irytujący" i "wkurzający" 🤷‍♀️ Ale praktycznie wszystkie problemy Gabe'a znikają jak za dotknięciem magicznej różdżki... Clarka różdżki oczywiście 😜

Więcej nawet nie chce mi się pisać...

I jeszcze notka dla mnie samej - NIE CZYTAĆ książek Piper Scott!!!
Bo to ta sama autorka...

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous friends to lovers romance

Book two in this series was massively different from the first one but still a gorgeous romance.

This time it's a best friends reunited and fall in love narrative that's both scorching hot and super sweet.

The secondary plot line about catfishing and the dangers of the internet also worked well for me.

I loved Clark's crazy family and also the friendship with Payton.

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this listen. It was a bit slow to start, but once it got going, I was totally invested. The characters were really easy to love and the snarky humor just really got me.

Michael F. is brilliant in his narration, as always.

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars - rounded down.

Emma Alcott's Before the Call was a huge disappointment.

There is so much potential with the eclectic cast of characters Alcott created and a secondary plot line that should have been more fully developed as the primary focus of the novel.

Unfortunately, this one just didn't work.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so sweet, and I just loved Clark and Gabe together. I don't know if it had quite the snappy punch that the first book had? But I love this author and pretty much love everything she writes.

I think I wish that maybe Clark and Gabe were a bit older when they reconnected? They are still very young, and I think as I get older, I want to be reading about older characters maybe. Also - that's a LOT of siblings. Like, that's too many LOL. And based on the summary, I thought this book would be going in a different direction than it did, since so much of it revolved around Clark's brother, and their friend Peyton.

Still, what I think I loved most about this is that while Gave is super worried about how he'll be welcomed in his small hometown, he finds out that the people in town truly care for him, Clark, and Clark's family. I love that they protect each other and stand up for each other when it comes down to it. It shows that not all small towns are narrow-minded and horrible. And I also loved that once Clark realized that he wanted Gabe, he didn't care about what people would think or what would happen - he just wanted Gabe. Sigh, love that determination!

[mich ⚘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little hesitant at first about reading this since book one was a miss for me but I have to say I enjoyed Before the Call quite a bit.

Being in love with your straight best friend is never easy especially while living in such a small town so Gabe decided to run and run fast straight after high school. He never meant for his friendship with Clark to end but between the distance and life just happens the two lose contact until four years later when they immediately reconnect. But, this time around things are different because Clark is beginning to realize that he feels more for Gabe than he ever expected.

Before the Call was sexy, fun and had the perfect amount of drama to spice things up. I am a huge fan of friends to lovers and Gabe and Clark are the exact reason I love that trope so much. I loved watching the change from friendship to relationship and seeing the old and newfound feelings being acknowledged.


3.5 stars

♡ arc provided in exchange for an honest review ♡

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best friends to lovers is my favorite trope, and based on the blurb I was really ready to love this. There was a little too much family drama and a little too little romance, humor, cuteness, and sweetness for me to really get on board, though. I'm sure there are plenty of people who will love this book; it just wasn't quite to my taste. Here's a more accurate blurb for the book:

Four years after Gabe left the tiny town of Elliston, MO, and his best friend, Clark, behind for what he thought was for good, he's back in town with a new job. After a chance run-in with Clark at the grocery store, the two reconnect immediately, and Gabe knows that he still isn't over his massive crush on his old (straight) friend, and chances are that he might never be.

Four years ago, Clark watched Gabe head off to college, and was happy to see his closest friend make his way to Oregon to start his new life. Between Clark's full time job and the time spent helping his mom raise his eight younger siblings, he lost touch with Gabe. Clark never stopped missing his best friend, though, and when a chance meeting brings Gabe back into his life, Clark begins to recognize that the feelings he had for his Dork in high school were a lot different than the ones he has now. But between the pressures of a job in jeopardy, trying to keep the family safe and together, and facing Gabe's fears about living life out of the closet, can their new relationship survive?

[Jess Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before the Call is book two in the Small Town Hearts series by Emma Alcott and I have to say it was quite the letdown. After the Crash (book one) was everything and more but this story fell flat in so many ways to me.

I can't say I didn't like it because it was an OK story. I really expected more after book one though. There was never a point through the whole book where I could connect with either of the MC's. I kept waiting for something to happen, or something to pull me in but it just didn't happen.

The story of Clark and his family was truly adorable, and I love the family aspect, but it felt so out of place with the rest of the story to me. Book three sounds like it is going to be a continuation of an open story line in this book, but I could be wrong. There was HEA which is always a plus but this just didn't do it for me at all....

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molto divertente, dolcissimo e con una punta di spavento!! 💖💖💖💖

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook review

Clark and Gabe were best friends in high school, they were joined at the hip and vowed things would never change. Still, they both knew it would, Gabe was going off to college and Clark was staying put to start working in the mines. Four years later Gabe moves back to town to start teaching at their old school. Their contact has been sporadic while Gabe was gone, but they quickly starts where they ended, but with the tantalising promise for more.

The romance was slow and gradual – until they finally got together. Then the heat and passion was non-stop. Personally it was a bit much and repetitive for me, but like always the preference of heat levels is individual and shouldn’t deter anyone from picking a book up. The two as a couple worked perfectly, they made sense and had a connection that went beyond the physical. They built each other up and championed the other. There was some drama, but it fit with the set-up of the plot and story.

Before the Call was narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo. I have to admit that I was expecting J.F. Harding as he narrated the first book. On the other hand a change of narrator isn’t a really an issue in this case as each of the books are only loosely connected by the small town theme. None of the characters overlap. Anyway this was another wonderful performance by Michael Ferraiuolo. He makes you dream away to this small town to spend time with Clark and Gabe, their second chance. The start of something new and everything that entails.

Everything he does was spot on, the pacing voices and feelings, so many feelings. He made you feel the longing Gabe felt for Clark, his best friend. But also the love Gabe had for is family and his need to make it all come together, his longing for more and fear of the unknown and uncertainty of the future. Ferraiuolo made the experience pleasant and effortless and it was easy to dream away to a faraway land (at least for me).

Before the Call was a sweet and mostly uncomplicated best friends-to-lovers story.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

[Love Is All Around · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voto: 3.5
RECENSIONE A CURA DI SLANIF
Gabriel “Gabe” Mitchell e Clark Summers sono amici sin dal liceo ma quando Gabe vola dall’altra parte del paese per frequentare l’università, i contatti tra i due si interrompono e dovranno passare quattro anni prima che le loro strade si possano incontrare di nuovo.
Ciò avviene quando Gabe tornerà nella piccola cittadina di Elliston per insegnare matematica nel liceo locale.
Cosa succederà adesso che sono adulti? Gabe è sempre stato segretamente innamorato di Clark, che però è etero… Rischierà di avere ancora il cuore spezzato come da ragazzo o il suo amico saprà regalargli una gradita sorpresa?
Continua sul nostro blog!

[Tessi4M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabe has been in love with his best friend forever. But since he didn't particular care for being out and proud in a small town in Missouri, and because his straight best friend would never return those feelings, he ran away for college as soon as he could.

Years later, with a college degree in his pocket, his job hunt is not going particularly well, so he ends up taking a position as the newest member of the teaching staff at his old high school. Which means moving back to Elliston and meeting Clark again. They slot back seamlessly into each other's lives. And since this is a romance, Clark is obviously not quite as straight as everyone - including himself - has always assumed.

I loved all the characters in this story. And there were quite a few. From Clark's large family to the people of Elliston showing the best of small-town life. But my favorite is probably Gabe and his insane, internal monologues.

“You wanna watch something on Netflix?” Clark asked, saving Gabe from imminent collision. When Gabe looked his way, he held out a spoon.
If, twenty-three years ago, the sperm who knew how to talk to people had won the race to its egg, Gabe would have undoubtedly said yes, and that would have been the end of it. Unfortunately, the race had been rigged, so what Gabe ended up saying was, “Just so we’re on the same page here… do you mean watch-watch or sex-watch?”

This great story was made even better by Michael Ferraiuolo's narration. But then, that's is hardly surprising. His name on the cover is a decisive factor for me when deciding whether to read a book myself or listen to the audio version.

[Sophie ARGINTARU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Décidément cette série est intéressante. En fait chaque roman peut se lire seul. Ils n’ont en commun que ces éléments : deux trentenaires qui se sont connus gamins dans une petite ville de l’Amérique profonde (jamais la même) et qui se retrouvent soudain, revenus au pays, mais à la croisée des chemins. Ici, ce sont « deux meilleurs amis » soit Gabe et Clark, qui sont remis en présence, quatre ans après le départ de Gabe, parti faire des études et qui pensait ne jamais revenir (gay dans le placard, secrètement amoureux de Clark hétérosexuel). Mais la vie fait… qu’il revient pour être un banal prof de math et qui retrouve tout en souffrant en silence, la joie effrénée de son copain, devenu mineur, véritable soutien familial de toute une flopée de frères et sœurs…

Cette romance est toute aussi sexy…. et adorablement chaleureuse que la première histoire. En fait, c’est encore une histoire d’une simplicité façon « american dream » tout à fait réjouissante. Ici le seul vrai rebondissement est plutôt de taille et très bien traité. Et même si le traitement ressemble encore un peu trop au premier, on sent une maîtrise bien plus énergique. En fait, Emma Alcott m’a donné l’impression qu’elle voulait réconcilier les deux Amérique qui aujourd’hui se confrontent avec une violence dérangeante, montrant aussi les défauts des deux côtés. Ainsi, on sent le léger mépris de Gabe pour cette petite ville traditionnelle, et les habitants vont se révéler nettement plus tolérants qu’on pouvait l’espérer. On ajoute la copine foldingue qui apporte une bonne dose d’humour et du dynamisme et on a une délicieuse romance gay !

Un très très bon moment !

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A sweet, easy read about assumptions and not letting go of your first love. This story was very gentle, with an oddly dark subplot about the dangers of stranger danger online, and some dirty sexy scenes.

I have to say though, I was a little sad when Gabe’s icecream fantasy at the start was filthier than the actual sex he has with Clarke. I was ready for it to be hot and nasty and it kind of was but I felt like it was a tease rather than the full course.

The ending was a little messy too and lost me a bit with all the time skips and I think I stopped just before the final chapter because I was just done with it. I thought, this can end here just find, don’t need extra.

Clarke is very sweet and so is Gabe, especially with how they work together as a team and Clarke trying to understand who he is and his sexuality. It was nice to finish off after a long work day.

[ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabe and Clark
This was slow burn best friends to lovers romance. Slow burn until it wasn’t. Lol. Then it was a constant non stop burn.
I was worried that the MCs might injure themselves from over exertion.
There are a few plot holes*** that were never filled but it was a nice story of love and friendship.
In letting your guard down, good things can happen.





*** Gabe moves to the town and NEVER sees his parents?? Until Christmas 🤔several months later

Also no one catches on that they are in a relationship for months.. like seriously 😳 with ALL those kids there was no perceptive one in the bunch

The epilogue still has them using condoms 3 years later.. hmmm 🤔 curious. They were practically married by then..

[Leelah&#x1f341;♋️ Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great one

What a joy this book was. Two best friends finding the love they shared before they were an us. I enjoyed the dynamics of these two. How they loved each other before they even knew what love was. I loved the nerdy fumbling I loved how they were grown ups and talked, I loved how there wasn’t much angst. There were lots of kids and a dog but they didn’t take over the story just added to it.
Great writing, great story, hawt smexy and wonderful side characters.

Excited for the next book in this series

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was it just me or was Clark a saint? I mean, as a parent how in the world could you let your child put his life on hold just to raise his brother and sisters? I don't get it. He was still sharing a room with 3 other brothers. How is that even okay? But, Clark acted as if everything was okay. He acted like dropping out of school was okay. He acted like not having a life of his own and automatically the father of like 7 kids was normal. I wish his mom wouldn't have put that all on him.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of laughter along with the tears while reading this one. Devon -- that whole scene in the field kinda killed me -- Gabe was a total rock star grown-up there. (So impressed and proud of him!) Payton is all sorts of awesome and she deserves her own HEA for sure. Love Clark so much -- what a quality human being! I wish we had even a little bit of time with Mrs. Summers -- she's really not here at all, and I missed seeing who she could've been.

[Jamie Lee Zonneveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before The Call is a Small Town Hearts novel by Emma Alcott. This book is about best friends Gabe and Clark. They lost contact after Gabe went to college 4 years ago. Now he's moved back. Will Clark want to see him again?

I loved Clark and Gabe. This was my first book by this author and I really liked the writing style.

[Ζωή Παππά · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww what a lovely love story!! I love the best friends to lovers trope and I think it was really well done in this book. Gabe was so cute and nerdy and Clark was a sweetheart. I really enjoyed reading their story. I also thought that the storyline about Clark's brother was a great addition to the book too.

[Modwena Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a feelgood book with just the right amount of drama. I completely fell in love with Gabe and Clark, such an adorable couple. Best friends in highschool, geeky, adorkable, Gabe has always had a crush on the oblivious Clark. When he returns home to take up a teaching position the pair rekindle their friendship which eventually turns to so much more.
The writing has so many quirky, humorous phrases peppered throughout Gabe's inner monologue that had me smiling and occasionally laughing out loud. I loved it.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clack and Gabe had easily captivated me. They're adorable together.
I think I will keep going to read this series, since the first book of the series was not disappointing as well. In fact, I really did like it.

Full review soon!