Gut-Checked

Messy Hearts #3

by Charity Parkerson

Cruz thought they were perfect. Ford couldn’t take the loneliness any longer. Everything will need to change to save them.

Ford has been Cruz’s best friend for a few years. Their friends-with-benefits arrangement has always worked for Cruz. Cruz isn’t seeing anyone else. He assumes Ford is the same. It’s a perfect relationship as far as Cruz is concerned. He’s too busy running his successful custom bike shop to look too closely at their relationship. Then it’s gone.

Since Ford met Cruz, he’s been in love. Despite Cruz’s inability to see anything beyond his success, Cruz is still pretty amazing. He’s gorgeous and fun. He’s that guy who never loses. The problem is, Cruz doesn’t love Ford. He could walk away anytime, and Ford wants someone who can’t live without him. Ford knows there’s no way he’ll ever have a normal life with Cruz, and as long as he stays close by, he’ll never stop saying yes when Cruz calls. That’s why he takes a job over three hundred miles away from the man who owns his heart. It’s the only way he’ll ever be free.

When Ford drops the news that’s he’s done and moving away, Cruz has to find a way to stop him. Everything he believed about their relationship has to change. While Cruz has no intention of letting Ford get away, this might be the one time he doesn’t get his way.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance, Contemporary, Novella, Romance

88 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2020

About the author

Charity Parkerson is an award winning and multi-published author with several companies. Born with no filter from her brain to her mouth, she decided to take this odd quirk and insert it in her characters.

*Eight-time winner of Readers' Favorite Awards
*2014 Golden Ankh nominee
*2013 Readers' Favorite Award Winner
*2013 Reviewers' Choice Award Winner
*2012 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Paranormal Romance
*Five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath

**Connect with her online:
Website: charityparkerson.com
Facebook: facebook.com/authorCharityParkerson
facebook.com/TheMenofSin
Twitter: twitter.com/CharityParkerso

Reviews

[NhaughtyV says Damn the Zon Save the Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nothing is more important than being with the person who keeps you sane. Everything else is just busy work for the idle mind.”

Gonna review this one a little different…if you want a summary of the book, read the blurb…

Gut-Checked is the third installment to Charity Parkerson’s Messy Hearts series, and to be flat out honest, as much as I loved the first two, I almost quit this one. Why you ask? Cruz…I just could not find anything likeable about the quick-tempered arrogant ass! Or maybe it’s because he punched my beloved Raiden (read Soul-Wrecked) that put me off. But whatever the reason, I started this book already hating him! If hitting Raiden wasn’t enough, now he’s treating Ford like nothing more than his f*ck buddy, and completely shattering Ford. Well, I’d had enough! Enough! But wait…this author has a way of writing unlikable characters and making them ever so redeemable, and not in a “I can fix you” way. It’s more of a hidden hurt that needs the right person to love them, and that is exactly what happens with Cruz. Gut-Checked reminded me not to be so quick to judge…we all have our secrets…some are just better at hiding them…

As a Reader’s Note, this is not the story to start with in the series. In fact, I would highly recommend reading in order! Looking forward to the next messy heart HEA!

[thebloggerandthegeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be extremely short because I was frustrated about how the plot was carried out.

Ford and Cruz have been in a sexual relationship for the past years. Cruz is a bit of a workaholic and doesn't push Ford, gives him space and because of it, Ford believes they are only sexually compatible and nothing more. I was frustrated because Ford decides to just move and tells Cruz two months before the moving and leaves Cruz in a daze. Is like Cruz tells him in the book - why didn't Ford tell Cruz how he was feeling? They could have talked and resolved it.

“For the record, you are important to me, and you’ve never been my last option. I just truly am a workaholic. If I’m not at the shop, I’m usually networking at the biker bars or trying to talk casino owners into hiring me to design their next big giveaway. I have five guys who depend on me for their livelihoods. If I stop hustling, they lose out. You don’t like going to bars, so I didn’t want to bug you with that. I never meant for you to get lost in the mix, but I guess the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and you never complained. It wasn’t until you dropped the bomb that you’re leaving that I realized I had already failed you.”

I'm happy that in the end, they got together, mainly, I was more interested in Bay and his story.

[Mikki James - Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cruz and Ford have been in a relationship for the past 3 years...wait a second, they haven't? Ford decides that this "friend's with benefits" thing he has going with Cruz is numbered. He can no longer continue this charade when he's in love with his best friend. So, he decides a fresh start will help clear his head. Ford tells Cruz he's moving 5 hours away. Cruz is shocked and hurt. Ford tells Cruz that he can't be just a number in his phone anymore for a late night hook-up. Except too Cruz, Ford has been the only number in his phone. Now with 2 months till his move Cruz must do everything in his power to get the man he loves to reconsider what they have before it's too late.

This is rather on the shorter side. However, I really liked the relationship between Cruz and Ford. A lot of their problems stemmed from miscommunication (which I always find annoying tbh; it's like just talk to each other). But it is a sweet story about the lengths that one man will go through to show he's lover that he's all in and looking for forever.

This has a slight age gap (38 and 45 year old), friends-to-lovers romance and a lot of sizzling chemistry.

I would recommend reading !

[Danna Iuliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guys made no sense to me. Ford is moving bc he is in love with his best friend Cruz who, according to Ford only wants him for sex and even that as a last resort. Although Ford admits to himself he has never seen Cruz with anyone else he is convinced Cruz is a player. How are they best friends while having such a low, wrong opinion of eachother?! The minute Cruz learns Ford is moving to another state, he tells him he wants him, he has never been with anyone else in the 3 years they ve been together. Ford doesn t react to this, it s like he enjoys being the wronged party. In one chapter Ford thinks of Cruz as a player, always having hot guys on speed dial and in the next he thinks of Cruz as this kind, smart guy who deserves to find his forever. This story made no sense for half of it, they come around, especially Ford in the end so I still enjoyed it. The little panic attack and hospital visit were great and heartfelt, it endeared them to me. Cruz bc he cared so much and Ford bc in the end he couldn t leave.

[Monikat · Rating 4 out of 5]

So... the trouble with this very inventive story (for me) was that I didn't like the red flag behavior in the back story. They were never friends to lovers, they were f*cking from the first hour they met. The fact that they became friends was secondary. What bugged me was that this went on for three whole years and while Ford was falling in love, Cruz was going about his business, missing all the ques for showing emotion for Ford, using him at his every whim. That whole behavior threw me off, even though it's later shown that Ford should have spoken up earlier. The gut-check was set up perfectly and the rest of the story was on point and that's why I gave 4 stars. My issue is that It was hard to forgive (or trust) Cruz. Even at the end circumstances had to change for Cruz to change....
and now I'm just rambling :D
Carry on, go read the book.... :D

[D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Communication worked both ways, which was the most crucial thing in a relationship, but Ford and Cruz were both terrible at it. Ford assumed Cruz had another person warming his bed, but the truth was that Cruz was a workaholic. He didn't have time to spend with Ford aside from the booty call. Ford was the one for Cruz, but he wasn't doing a good job of demonstrating his worth to him. When Ford announced that he was moving to Phoenix, Cruz recognized that it was now or never to win Ford back and prove that he was the one from the beginning.

It was an okay read, but I can't truly enjoy it because I'm not fond of the two MCs and didn't like when Ford kissed Bay, and for Cruz to find out, that was a little heartbreaking.

[Devoted❤️Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blinders

Sometimes it takes a shock to wake us up to what we really have. “Forever wouldn’t be long enough to satisfy me.” Cruz and Ford are meant to be if not for their names then for the amazing friendship and connection they have. These two have smoking chemistry and a love that will last more than a lifetime. No !after what they face they will do it together. I look forward to the next in the series as I know it will be a ride we won't want to miss.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this book.

At the start felt sorry for Ford but he really was the one at fault, Cruz broke my heart, he loved Ford so much and Ford didn’t know anything about Cruz. Near the end, I don’t get why Ford just didn’t tell Cruz about his meeting, I did cry for Cruz near the end. Loved Cruz so much, Ford was okay and they made a great couple. Definitely mixed feeling, can’t say to much as it will give it away.

[Leticia Bushong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

This was great this was the epitome of you don't know what you have until it's gone. Cruz hadn't realize that everything he thought Ford knew about them he didn't. Ford had waited years for Cruz to love him but because Ford never expressed home he had know clue he did until he was moving.Eventually they got their happy ending.I can't wait for Bay's story.

[Tatianna Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick...

I have a problem, it is my problem but it also colors the way I see things. I hate to feel rushed in a story. I get that not all stories are door stoppers, but with these too I would have liked a little more. Ford and Cruz feel sort of incomplete but still worth reading. Onto the next one.

[Maranda Prigmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This was a great read. I loved it. Cruz doesn't know what he's got until it's lost. Ford is tired of being Cruz last choice. They have lots of ups and downs. Phoenix is the best place to move in order to start over. But will Cruz fight for him? I am excited to read about the new character introduced named Bay.

[Mirjam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short Review

MC's rating: 3* (Likeable characters)
Story rating: 2* (OTT sweet, no angst)
Heat level rating: 3*
Romance rating: 3*
Story wrap up rating: 2.5*
Supporting characters: 3
Overall rating: 3*

[Ankita Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you pack such a hard punch in 100 pages??

Cruz and Ford's story was so impactful. I loved their chemistry, loved the way they loved each other without the other one realising.

And I adored the way it ended.

Fingers crossed that the next book tells Antonio and Bay's story.

[Toni K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was resolved pretty fast and lacked substance. These books are a bit short to tackle any problem seriously.

[Neisha † The Poet † · Rating 5 out of 5]

S

[Ilse Marijke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice MM novella

Another lovely story from the pen of Ms Parkerson. Hot MCs who were not so lucky in the love department, are crazy in love with each other, but haven’t said the L-word out loud to one another, which creates some confusion. But all’s well that end well, with a HEA! *swoon* I love that ❤️