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The Den Boys #6
Falling Together
I’ve been in a fog for the past year. Haven’t really felt like myself in the last six. ~ Tristan
Losing my best friend in a war I hadn’t understood, fighting for a military that had cast me out when I’d outlived my usefulness, had sent me on a path of self-destruction. Now, four years later, I had my life back on track. Or so it would seem. I had a job I liked at a bar where my coworkers had become my family, but there was always something missing that kept me from ever feeling true happiness. A trip back to my hometown to try and find closure was supposed to have been a promise I kept to a friend, but it turned into so much more the moment I met my best friend’s brother.
Max is the opposite of what I’d pictured and exactly what I’ve always wanted. I know I needed to keep my distance to keep him safe, but when he offers me a job at his family’s inn, I'm powerless to do anything other than agree.
It didn’t matter how hard I worked or how much I tried, I was always second best. ~ Max
After spending the last eighteen years living and working as a chef in New York City, I was back in my tiny hometown trying to restore and reopen my family’s inn. It was supposed to be a new chapter for me, a way to finally realize my dream of having my own kitchen, but coming back to the place I’d fled at seventeen wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Especially after I ran into my little brother’s best friend and impulsively asked him to help me with the renovations while he was still in town.
It’s obvious Tristan is grappling with demons few people could understand, but there’s something about the handsome and enigmatic man that makes me want to know what those demons are, and to help him chase them away
Losing my best friend in a war I hadn’t understood, fighting for a military that had cast me out when I’d outlived my usefulness, had sent me on a path of self-destruction. Now, four years later, I had my life back on track. Or so it would seem. I had a job I liked at a bar where my coworkers had become my family, but there was always something missing that kept me from ever feeling true happiness. A trip back to my hometown to try and find closure was supposed to have been a promise I kept to a friend, but it turned into so much more the moment I met my best friend’s brother.
Max is the opposite of what I’d pictured and exactly what I’ve always wanted. I know I needed to keep my distance to keep him safe, but when he offers me a job at his family’s inn, I'm powerless to do anything other than agree.
It didn’t matter how hard I worked or how much I tried, I was always second best. ~ Max
After spending the last eighteen years living and working as a chef in New York City, I was back in my tiny hometown trying to restore and reopen my family’s inn. It was supposed to be a new chapter for me, a way to finally realize my dream of having my own kitchen, but coming back to the place I’d fled at seventeen wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Especially after I ran into my little brother’s best friend and impulsively asked him to help me with the renovations while he was still in town.
It’s obvious Tristan is grappling with demons few people could understand, but there’s something about the handsome and enigmatic man that makes me want to know what those demons are, and to help him chase them away
- GenresM M RomanceGay
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2020
15 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
A.T. Brennan
35 books195 followersA.T. Brennan, a native of Ottawa, Canada, has always had her head in a book and a story to tell. A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and current entrepreneur and author, she enjoys spending her days working on her many projects and her nights writing and not getting enough sleep. She currently lives on Canada’s East Coast with her kiddo and cat. She enjoys collecting shoes and exploring the different aspects of romance in her works. She also publishes erotica under the name Mandie Mills.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 5, 2020
This is another solid installment to this series. Two guys who, with their respective issues, end up being perfect for each other and exactly what the other needs. Tristan is leaving the Den Boys family to head home to face his past, his family members who abused and turned on him when he was younger. He is older now, a disabled veteran who has been having trouble facing life and in desperate need of some closure and something good to come along. Luckily, he runs into Max who has returned home to renovate his family’s inn. Max has never fit in, with his family or the town he left behind for a career in NYC. Both Tristan and Max realize neither is like the family members they each had known and been traumatized by, and Max offers Tristan a place to stay in exchange for his help with the inn.
Tristan’s problems are compounded by his HIV+ status. He has remained celibate and closed off from other ever since his diagnosis. Thankfully, not only does Max not let that deter him from a relationship with Tristan, but he takes steps to make it possible. They have obvious chemistry, but they have a few other hurdles as well. Max is a bit body conscious being on the hefty side, and Tristan has what they realize may be bi-polar disorder. There is also the underlying issue of Tristan’s grief over the loss of his best friend who he lost in combat who also happens to be Max’s brother. As you can expect, they both have issues to deal with in that regard.
Sounds like a smorgasbord of issues to turn into an edible meal, and this author does just that. Nothing drags out too long, and while nothing is made light of, they face them and find ways around or over them in order to move forward. I enjoyed this aspect of the story. It flowed well and was satisfying in the end. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next in this extremely enjoyable series.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
April 18, 2020
Beautifully broken and deserving of acceptance and love creates an amazing story. This is a wonderful story with well developed characters. The writing flowed beautifully and the story-line kept me totally engaged, reading it in one sitting.
The MC's are unique and each has a story to tell. The author brought a really clear picture of how debilitating a mental illness can be how how much impact it can have on ones life. The story also is one of hope, forgiveness and love.
Tristan and Max's story is emotional and some of the experiences will hurt your heart because they are so painful and dark. I love that together they find acceptance, love and light.
This is book five in The Den Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. I do recommend all the books in this series because each is really good.
I was gifted this book from the author and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
The MC's are unique and each has a story to tell. The author brought a really clear picture of how debilitating a mental illness can be how how much impact it can have on ones life. The story also is one of hope, forgiveness and love.
Tristan and Max's story is emotional and some of the experiences will hurt your heart because they are so painful and dark. I love that together they find acceptance, love and light.
This is book five in The Den Boys series and can be read as a stand-alone. I do recommend all the books in this series because each is really good.
I was gifted this book from the author and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
April 16, 2020
i love this series so much... it is so much fun and real... so many amazing emotions and makes me tear up at times.. so many sexy things going on and funny spots. i love it so much and this story made me so happy.
April 19, 2020
Falling Together, the sixth book in The Den Boys series, is an amazing read by AT Brennan. Although the bar, The Den, continues to be a fantastic background, I still find this can easily be read as a standalone.
Tristan's a complex character; a man who's barely hanging on. Returning home to find closure, he ends up being hired by Max to help fix up a newly inherited inn. The two men knew one another as kids, but the years have separated them. What follows is a complex enemies to lovers tale, with misplaced grief and anger.
And in the end, this is an impressive tale, tackling many deep issues. Their story is one that delves deep into homophobia and HIV. Their story also tackles the need for the right combination of domination and submission. Their story includes drug use, depression, grief, guilt, and mental issues. The author excels in developing and illustrating all these issues, leaving me impressed by all of it.
In addition, the author throws in small town issues, both the good and the bad, family issues galore, and some pleasant surprises. The author spares no expense in the deep issues involved with Tristan's experiences with sex. It is well written, emotional, and beautifully developed.
I really love this book. The characters are intriguing and endearing, the storyline is compelling, with some wonderful moments, and the pace flows seamlessly. I wouldn't change a thing about the writing style or the story line.
Overall, Falling Together is one of those books I didn't want to see end. I feel like I need to dive back into it and re-read it immediately. I highly recommend this story.
As for me, now I need to read the books in The Den Boys series that I've missed. If they are anywhere as fantastic as this book, I will happily devour them too.
Tristan's a complex character; a man who's barely hanging on. Returning home to find closure, he ends up being hired by Max to help fix up a newly inherited inn. The two men knew one another as kids, but the years have separated them. What follows is a complex enemies to lovers tale, with misplaced grief and anger.
And in the end, this is an impressive tale, tackling many deep issues. Their story is one that delves deep into homophobia and HIV. Their story also tackles the need for the right combination of domination and submission. Their story includes drug use, depression, grief, guilt, and mental issues. The author excels in developing and illustrating all these issues, leaving me impressed by all of it.
In addition, the author throws in small town issues, both the good and the bad, family issues galore, and some pleasant surprises. The author spares no expense in the deep issues involved with Tristan's experiences with sex. It is well written, emotional, and beautifully developed.
I really love this book. The characters are intriguing and endearing, the storyline is compelling, with some wonderful moments, and the pace flows seamlessly. I wouldn't change a thing about the writing style or the story line.
Overall, Falling Together is one of those books I didn't want to see end. I feel like I need to dive back into it and re-read it immediately. I highly recommend this story.
As for me, now I need to read the books in The Den Boys series that I've missed. If they are anywhere as fantastic as this book, I will happily devour them too.
April 17, 2020
Falling Together
I was so looking forward to Tristan's book and you didn't disappoint.
Tristan, a Den Boy, returns to the childhood town he left after being kicked out by his dad and severely beaten by his brothers for being gay. Now he's back to gain some closure.
The one person he didn't think would help him is Max, his dead best friend, Mark, older brother.
Max is back to try and salvage the family's dilapitated Inn and finds someone trespassing on his land When challenged he finds the person to be none other than Tristan, the man who enlisted with his brother Mark. Tristan came back from combat but Mark lost his life.
Max remembers that Tristan used to help his mother with the upkeep of the Inn, so asks him for his help. This in turn helps them both come to terms with what happened to Mark and they soon find themselves in each other arms.
I love the compassion and non judgement that Max gives Tristan and even though Tristan is away from The Den, the boys are still incorporated in the story. Can't wait for them to visit the Inn.
The connection between Tristan & Max is electric. Their individual stories are both heartbreaking but how they find comfort in each other's arms is perfect. A.T. Brennan handled the subject matter with care, love and compassion. Great work!
I was so looking forward to Tristan's book and you didn't disappoint.
Tristan, a Den Boy, returns to the childhood town he left after being kicked out by his dad and severely beaten by his brothers for being gay. Now he's back to gain some closure.
The one person he didn't think would help him is Max, his dead best friend, Mark, older brother.
Max is back to try and salvage the family's dilapitated Inn and finds someone trespassing on his land When challenged he finds the person to be none other than Tristan, the man who enlisted with his brother Mark. Tristan came back from combat but Mark lost his life.
Max remembers that Tristan used to help his mother with the upkeep of the Inn, so asks him for his help. This in turn helps them both come to terms with what happened to Mark and they soon find themselves in each other arms.
I love the compassion and non judgement that Max gives Tristan and even though Tristan is away from The Den, the boys are still incorporated in the story. Can't wait for them to visit the Inn.
The connection between Tristan & Max is electric. Their individual stories are both heartbreaking but how they find comfort in each other's arms is perfect. A.T. Brennan handled the subject matter with care, love and compassion. Great work!
May 19, 2020
I have read all the books in this series so far, but Tristan and Max story affected me the most. If you have read the previous books, you know that Tristan isn't doing very well. He is closed off, scared of touch but always willing to listen and care if someone of his new found family needs to talk. Rhyss and Evan seem to know more of his background but never talk about it. As Tristan sinks deeper into his depression, his best friend Rhyss sends him back to his hometown, just for a month and to seek closure from his upbringing. He accepts but what he didn't expect was to find himself at the inn of his best friend Mark's parents. The one he left behind in the desert when hit by a roadside bomb. There he meets Max, Mark's older brother who left for New York when he turned 18. Away from the bullying. He tried to make a living as a cheff, but it didn't work out. Now he's back to reopen the rundown inn from his parents. Through the years he hated Tristan, believing it was his fault his brother joined the army and got killed. But he soon realises that Tristan is very damaged and not at all the person he always thought he was. Max has a lot of insecurities as well and together they learn to accept. But when Tristan's time is up, are they able to say goodbuy? This series is an awsome read with a lot of topics in the open. I can't wait to read Devon's story.
April 18, 2020
This was such a good book. Tristan's life had always been hard. The family he built with his friends from The Den were the first to really support him after. he lost his best friend Mark, but Tristan was still in a bad place. He had both mental and physical issues, and he was so damn lonely. Rhys (one of my favorite Den boys) encouraged Tristan to go back to his home town to try to find closure with his horrible childhood. When he got there, Tristan found Mark's older brother Max, and his life changed for the better.
I loved Tristan and Max! They took care of each other and found a happiness neither expected. Max had his own share of issues, but together these two began to heal. They were so easy to care about, and cry for, and smile with. I love this series, and I recommend it happily. This wonderful romance is the perfect addition.
I loved Tristan and Max! They took care of each other and found a happiness neither expected. Max had his own share of issues, but together these two began to heal. They were so easy to care about, and cry for, and smile with. I love this series, and I recommend it happily. This wonderful romance is the perfect addition.
March 18, 2021
I loved seeing Tristan get his HEA. I’d never read a book with an HIV positive main character before and I really appreciated it. It made me realise how many preconceived notions and misinformation I had regarding HIV.
April 17, 2020
Loved it!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews