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Transitions #2
Bobby Transformed
Following a breakup, and riding the waves of resentment, Bobby Devereaux writes a bestselling novel. No longer having a reason to stay in New York, he retreats to his family’s rural Iowa farm where he can make plans for his future. When Liam Rickard, the remarkably handsome and arrogant CEO of Rickard Publishing, turns up unannounced demanding a sequel, Bobby is determined to resist the man’s charms and stick with the goals he’s set for himself. Goals that certainly don’t involve writing more novels or falling for one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.
Liam Rickard is looking for something special. He needs a book that’s going to be a bestseller or face losing his new position running Rickard Publishing. Liam is always in charge, at least he was until the hottest new writer in a generation turns his world into chaos. As much as he’d tries to stay away, there’s just something about the sexy, young writer that makes him impossible to resist.
Liam Rickard is looking for something special. He needs a book that’s going to be a bestseller or face losing his new position running Rickard Publishing. Liam is always in charge, at least he was until the hottest new writer in a generation turns his world into chaos. As much as he’d tries to stay away, there’s just something about the sexy, young writer that makes him impossible to resist.
234 pages, ebook
First published March 27, 2020
15 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Blake Allwood
33 books178 followersBlake Allwood was born in west TN, then moved to Kansas City MO after attending college in Lamoni, Iowa. He met his husband in 1995 and they officially married in 2015, once gay marriage was legalized. In 2017, he and his husband sold their home, purchased an RV and began traveling the country with their two dogs. Their travels provide the inspiration and settings for many of his novels.
Typically, Blake can be found relaxing in the RV or by the fire with his laptop and their Jack Russell Terrier, Buddy, curled up between his legs demanding attention. Denver, their Siberian Husky mix is often asleep at his feet or playing tug of war with Blake’s husband.
Aiden Inspired (Apr 2019) is his first published novel, featuring two disparate characters from New York and Washington State who meet and develop an unlikely bond. His second novel, Suzie Empowered (Feb 2020), is a followup featuring Aiden’s sister Suzie as she overcomes her fear of relationships with straight men due to a sexual assault in high school. In March, Blake returned to gay romance with his release of Bobby Transformed about an Iowa farm boy and a big city publisher. His first three novels share characters and can be read in order or randomly.
Typically, Blake can be found relaxing in the RV or by the fire with his laptop and their Jack Russell Terrier, Buddy, curled up between his legs demanding attention. Denver, their Siberian Husky mix is often asleep at his feet or playing tug of war with Blake’s husband.
Aiden Inspired (Apr 2019) is his first published novel, featuring two disparate characters from New York and Washington State who meet and develop an unlikely bond. His second novel, Suzie Empowered (Feb 2020), is a followup featuring Aiden’s sister Suzie as she overcomes her fear of relationships with straight men due to a sexual assault in high school. In March, Blake returned to gay romance with his release of Bobby Transformed about an Iowa farm boy and a big city publisher. His first three novels share characters and can be read in order or randomly.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 2, 2020
Unexpectedly amazing!
This story is a surprise, a beautiful surprise! Bobby Devereaux is a sunshine! After a break up, he picked up his stuff and went back home to Iowa. Because of how he felt, he was able to write a novel, which when he submitted to a friend working in a publishing house, was picked up. Before he knew it, it is being published!
Liam has a reputation of being ruthless in business, a snob even being from a rich family, an Elite in New York society. Being the CEO of a then-collapsing publishing house, the arrival of an amazing book now has the ability to pull their company from the slump it is in now. Bobby Devereaux overshadowed everything else though. He has never met someone who would not bend to what he wants.
This story has too many twists and turns, but it is so good. I never expected how good it is from a new author for me!
This story is a surprise, a beautiful surprise! Bobby Devereaux is a sunshine! After a break up, he picked up his stuff and went back home to Iowa. Because of how he felt, he was able to write a novel, which when he submitted to a friend working in a publishing house, was picked up. Before he knew it, it is being published!
Liam has a reputation of being ruthless in business, a snob even being from a rich family, an Elite in New York society. Being the CEO of a then-collapsing publishing house, the arrival of an amazing book now has the ability to pull their company from the slump it is in now. Bobby Devereaux overshadowed everything else though. He has never met someone who would not bend to what he wants.
This story has too many twists and turns, but it is so good. I never expected how good it is from a new author for me!
April 6, 2020
Quite a Surprise!
This was a different style of MM romance novel, and I greatly enjoyed the layered story threads and themes throughout the book. Set in our contemporary world, the story has elements of fantasy from its abundant inclusion of the wealth and privilege of some of its characters.
Excellent character development for Liam and Bobby, and good character development for the rest of the supporting cast. The story is laced with intrigue and repentance, and successfully navigates away from the common ploys of miscommunication or deliberate obfuscation. It ends with a resounding promise for a HEA for our MCs, and for many of the supporting cast.
This was a different style of MM romance novel, and I greatly enjoyed the layered story threads and themes throughout the book. Set in our contemporary world, the story has elements of fantasy from its abundant inclusion of the wealth and privilege of some of its characters.
Excellent character development for Liam and Bobby, and good character development for the rest of the supporting cast. The story is laced with intrigue and repentance, and successfully navigates away from the common ploys of miscommunication or deliberate obfuscation. It ends with a resounding promise for a HEA for our MCs, and for many of the supporting cast.
July 15, 2021
A wonderful, well written romance
Loved this book from start to finish. I couldn't put it down. Great characters that suck you in from the very beginning.
Loved this book from start to finish. I couldn't put it down. Great characters that suck you in from the very beginning.
April 7, 2020
Okay
This was an okay story and my first book by the author. No issues with the premise that opposites attract. But the story felt disjointed and hurried. The story timeline seemed to be off as if it was jumping and it needed with the flow. The way Bobby was described and how he acted in the few chapters did not align. But otherwise it was ok!
This was an okay story and my first book by the author. No issues with the premise that opposites attract. But the story felt disjointed and hurried. The story timeline seemed to be off as if it was jumping and it needed with the flow. The way Bobby was described and how he acted in the few chapters did not align. But otherwise it was ok!
May 8, 2020
I am going to start off with being extremely honest here. At first when I started reading this book I decided I was not going to like it. I cannot say what it was that made me feel this way. Regardless, I kept reading in hopes that it would capture my attention – and low and behold, to my amazement I changed my view on whether I would like this book or not. After getting past he first chapter, I found that the more I read, the more I was enjoying this story. Then before I knew it, I was sucked in and could not stop reading.
When Bobby decided to leave his hometown in Iowa and move to New York to pursue a career as a reporter, he never expected it to come to an end with losing his job and then his boyfriend as well. After everything he decides to pack up and go back home to his family.
Though being back on his family’s hog farm is not exactly where Bobby saw himself when he imagined his future, it turns out to be good for him. It gives him the opportunity to take everything that happened to him in New York, sit down, and write a novel about it. This is not something he ever saw himself doing and he honestly never thought that it would get published, but that is exactly what happens.
Liam is the CEO of his family’s publishing house. He has only been the CEO for about a year but he knows he needs to find the next big hit in the book community because the stocks for his publishing house, along with the sales, have been falling for a while now. So when one of his editors comes to him with a unique book that was sent in to them, Liam is excited about the prospect of what this book could mean for not only the author but his company as well.
To Bobby’s surprise the book he wrote becomes a huge hit. Along with the popularity of his book come signing tours, Comic Cons, and lots of guest appearances. Surprisingly the book is also picked up to be made into a movie. This is all great, but Bobby has no intention of writing more books because he does not enjoy all the signings, guest appearances, and constantly having to travel in order to promote the book. He originally wrote the book just to get out along his feelings about everything that happened to him in New York. He never expected it to become as famous as it has.
Now that the first book is such a huge success, Liam is determined to make sure that Bobby writes another book that is equally as good as the last, if not better. Since he is not listening to anyone else where writing a new book is concerned, Liam has decided to take matters into his own hands and seek Bobby out on his own territory. So Liam flies to Iowa to convince him. Bobby turns out to not be what Liam was expecting in the least. He is snarky and very determined to never write another book. In a last-ditch effort to try to convince him, Liam volunteers to help on Bobby’s family’s hog farm for the day. Little do Liam or Bobby know this would be the catalyst that changes the course of both their lives in the near future forever.
Will Liam be able to convince Bobby to write another book? If so how will it be received by the public? What will happen when attraction between two very different men makes an appearance? What else will happen to these two that will change their lives forever?
This was a great read. Once I got into this book, I absolutely could not put it down. There are so many twists and turns that I never saw coming that it left me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more books in this series in the future, if there are plans for more. Incredible read!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
When Bobby decided to leave his hometown in Iowa and move to New York to pursue a career as a reporter, he never expected it to come to an end with losing his job and then his boyfriend as well. After everything he decides to pack up and go back home to his family.
Though being back on his family’s hog farm is not exactly where Bobby saw himself when he imagined his future, it turns out to be good for him. It gives him the opportunity to take everything that happened to him in New York, sit down, and write a novel about it. This is not something he ever saw himself doing and he honestly never thought that it would get published, but that is exactly what happens.
Liam is the CEO of his family’s publishing house. He has only been the CEO for about a year but he knows he needs to find the next big hit in the book community because the stocks for his publishing house, along with the sales, have been falling for a while now. So when one of his editors comes to him with a unique book that was sent in to them, Liam is excited about the prospect of what this book could mean for not only the author but his company as well.
To Bobby’s surprise the book he wrote becomes a huge hit. Along with the popularity of his book come signing tours, Comic Cons, and lots of guest appearances. Surprisingly the book is also picked up to be made into a movie. This is all great, but Bobby has no intention of writing more books because he does not enjoy all the signings, guest appearances, and constantly having to travel in order to promote the book. He originally wrote the book just to get out along his feelings about everything that happened to him in New York. He never expected it to become as famous as it has.
Now that the first book is such a huge success, Liam is determined to make sure that Bobby writes another book that is equally as good as the last, if not better. Since he is not listening to anyone else where writing a new book is concerned, Liam has decided to take matters into his own hands and seek Bobby out on his own territory. So Liam flies to Iowa to convince him. Bobby turns out to not be what Liam was expecting in the least. He is snarky and very determined to never write another book. In a last-ditch effort to try to convince him, Liam volunteers to help on Bobby’s family’s hog farm for the day. Little do Liam or Bobby know this would be the catalyst that changes the course of both their lives in the near future forever.
Will Liam be able to convince Bobby to write another book? If so how will it be received by the public? What will happen when attraction between two very different men makes an appearance? What else will happen to these two that will change their lives forever?
This was a great read. Once I got into this book, I absolutely could not put it down. There are so many twists and turns that I never saw coming that it left me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more books in this series in the future, if there are plans for more. Incredible read!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
April 2, 2020
I wanted to read this book because it involved a love story between an author and his publisher. I looked forward to any details about the industry and while this wasn't overloaded with them, there were enough to keep me interested. Even if that had not been true, I fell in love with these two main characters. I have a soft spot for the romance which begins with the two MCs not falling in love at first sight. I don't really want them to be enemies, but I like that extra spark that comes when their initial reaction is irritation mixed with an attraction they don't quite understand. That is what I found in this book. The angst level isn't super high, both guys are decent men trying to do the right thing and I enjoyed the alternating point of view letting me see things from both sides. My first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.
March 20, 2020
I was privileged to be able to review an ARC of this book and it left me smiling from ear to ear, I thought it was lovely. Gave me warm and fuzzies 😉
For an M/M romance I found the couple very tender and affectionate, a true romance where each character was enhanced by the other.
That’s not to say there wasn’t enough spice though, it’ll be sure to keep readers hooked.
A great story, with well developed characters. I recommend it.
For an M/M romance I found the couple very tender and affectionate, a true romance where each character was enhanced by the other.
That’s not to say there wasn’t enough spice though, it’ll be sure to keep readers hooked.
A great story, with well developed characters. I recommend it.
October 7, 2021
I loved this novel, it transfers you into new worlds, steeps you in romance, and gives you a little bedroom smut to reward your efforts. It was my first time reading Blake Allwood, but I'll definitely be poking around in his world now.
September 1, 2021
What a delightful soap opera!
Thoroughly entertaining, with delightfully overblown characters. All the drama, yet it settles down to equilibrium at the end. What more could you ask for?
Thoroughly entertaining, with delightfully overblown characters. All the drama, yet it settles down to equilibrium at the end. What more could you ask for?
October 30, 2021
Heart warming
A realistic and feel good story where you can truely enjoy the characters, their backgrounds and the struggles they are facing. Well written and enjoyable
A realistic and feel good story where you can truely enjoy the characters, their backgrounds and the struggles they are facing. Well written and enjoyable
April 8, 2020
When Bobby writes a novel, it will change his life in ways he has no idea are coming. Liam is the head of the publishing company that wants Bobby's book, and he means to get it. He'll have to go through Bobby's agent, and Bobby to get it, though. He just never imagines that Bobby is the beautiful man that he is.
Bobby has no intentions of writing a second novel, though, but Liam's determined to persuade him. Believing in his powers of charm, thinking he'll swoop in with his smile and good looks, he heads to the middle of the country and armed in Armani, plops himself down on Bobby's family pig farm. Will their unexpected attraction get Liam the second novel he wants, or will Bobby's determination to not write again be the end of it all?
Bobby and Liam, though opposites in most ways, fit each other in a surprising manner. There were a few twists, some not so lovely side characters, and in the end I loved them together. I'm not sure if there's more to come, if this is part of a series or not, but I sure hope so.
ARC via GRR ARC Team for an honest review.
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April 8, 2020
A refreshing look into this author's writing style and perspective on a relationship. In my second attempt at reading his work, I felt drawn in from the first page.
The main character was looking for some love in a society he never saw himself fitting into and longed for acceptance and love. While coming off a bad break up, he finds writing to be a new release in life and a new career.
Liam was the new CEO of a failing company, that he inherited from his father. While trying to resurrect the company he stumbles across the love of his life in Bobby Devereaux.
The writer has done a great job of layering both characters from the previous book while introducing new ones into the mixers. Now add drama, love, and laughter into this and you have a great read.
I find Blake Allwood's work to be one this reader will pay great attention to in the future.
The main character was looking for some love in a society he never saw himself fitting into and longed for acceptance and love. While coming off a bad break up, he finds writing to be a new release in life and a new career.
Liam was the new CEO of a failing company, that he inherited from his father. While trying to resurrect the company he stumbles across the love of his life in Bobby Devereaux.
The writer has done a great job of layering both characters from the previous book while introducing new ones into the mixers. Now add drama, love, and laughter into this and you have a great read.
I find Blake Allwood's work to be one this reader will pay great attention to in the future.
March 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this book until the very end. The characters were well written and made a wonderful couple. The slow burn relationship aspect worked well for this couple and allowed for the characters to slowly develop over the course of the book.
As I mentioned earlier, up until the end this book was a 5* read for me. I just felt a bit confused at how the last chapter was left and then the epilogue was written. There was no segue to between the last chapter and epilogue and I just felt a bit lost since to me it seemed the book was interrupted. This is not enough for me to say that I was disappointed in the way the book played out, it’s just so different than anything I’ve read. This book is definitely worth the time spent reading it and has hidden layers that enriched the reading experience.
As I mentioned earlier, up until the end this book was a 5* read for me. I just felt a bit confused at how the last chapter was left and then the epilogue was written. There was no segue to between the last chapter and epilogue and I just felt a bit lost since to me it seemed the book was interrupted. This is not enough for me to say that I was disappointed in the way the book played out, it’s just so different than anything I’ve read. This book is definitely worth the time spent reading it and has hidden layers that enriched the reading experience.
April 23, 2020
Okay
Liked the love story.
Villians should get justice.
Author has no clue how a corporate works.
Liked the love story.
Villians should get justice.
Author has no clue how a corporate works.
April 7, 2020
This is a very nice story with some surprising twists and turns.
Bobby is dumped by his boyfriend. To help him get his head on straight he writes it all down. He uses writing to help clear his mind. He writes a best seller that saves a publishing company and the CEO's job.
Liam is the CEO of the publishing company. He has a reputation of being a terrible boss. His father turned the reigns of the company over to him to bring the company back from the brink. One of his staff sends him a rough draft of Bobby's book. He loves it and they publish it.
Liam and Bobby have the hots for each other. They are both coming off of bad relationships. Liam has the added stress of saving the company and his job. The work through their own issues to have a good relationship. This story also gives them time for those ties to build. They deal with outside stressors on their relationship but not before taking them to point of breaking.
Good Story
*I received an ARC for my honest opinion*
Bobby is dumped by his boyfriend. To help him get his head on straight he writes it all down. He uses writing to help clear his mind. He writes a best seller that saves a publishing company and the CEO's job.
Liam is the CEO of the publishing company. He has a reputation of being a terrible boss. His father turned the reigns of the company over to him to bring the company back from the brink. One of his staff sends him a rough draft of Bobby's book. He loves it and they publish it.
Liam and Bobby have the hots for each other. They are both coming off of bad relationships. Liam has the added stress of saving the company and his job. The work through their own issues to have a good relationship. This story also gives them time for those ties to build. They deal with outside stressors on their relationship but not before taking them to point of breaking.
Good Story
*I received an ARC for my honest opinion*
March 30, 2020
This book was a surprise for me. A good one.
Bobby is a farm boy lost in the big apple, Liam is a born and raised New Yorker. Bobby is a reporter and a writer; Liam is the CEO of a publishing company. Liam is used to have author fanning themselves at his feet, Bobby refuses to let another rich heir controlling his life. Their first meeting is a disaster, but despites the odds, Bobby and Liam are meant to be together, they just have to figure out how.
I love how the story is told. We alternate between Bobby and Liam POV, each MCs telling us their version of the events and how they fall in love with each other. I also loved how sometimes they told us fact like two reporters. Yes, we follow Bobby and Liam love story but some events, mostly minors events, are told factually like a reporter. It was creative not boring and at the end of book I didn’t have the feelings that something was missing in the story.
Bobby is a farm boy lost in the big apple, Liam is a born and raised New Yorker. Bobby is a reporter and a writer; Liam is the CEO of a publishing company. Liam is used to have author fanning themselves at his feet, Bobby refuses to let another rich heir controlling his life. Their first meeting is a disaster, but despites the odds, Bobby and Liam are meant to be together, they just have to figure out how.
I love how the story is told. We alternate between Bobby and Liam POV, each MCs telling us their version of the events and how they fall in love with each other. I also loved how sometimes they told us fact like two reporters. Yes, we follow Bobby and Liam love story but some events, mostly minors events, are told factually like a reporter. It was creative not boring and at the end of book I didn’t have the feelings that something was missing in the story.
March 27, 2020
I enjoyed this book. The characters tried so hard to do the right thing...even when it included not 'ripping into' someone who had gone out of their way to cause pain.
Tiffany was one of my favorite characters. I can't imagine how she stayed so strong with everything she'd lived through. It just goes to show how love can be blind.
Growing up on a farm I could relate to the whole 'pig smell' that struck Liam when he arrived in Iowa! Those scenes were some of my favorites.
Ultimately those in the 'right' won out.
The last 1/4 book tied up lots of loose ends, but felt a little rushed, to me. Maybe due to the fact that the first 3/4 slowly built a love story between Liam and Bobby.
An enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to experiencing the other books by Blake.
Tiffany was one of my favorite characters. I can't imagine how she stayed so strong with everything she'd lived through. It just goes to show how love can be blind.
Growing up on a farm I could relate to the whole 'pig smell' that struck Liam when he arrived in Iowa! Those scenes were some of my favorites.
Ultimately those in the 'right' won out.
The last 1/4 book tied up lots of loose ends, but felt a little rushed, to me. Maybe due to the fact that the first 3/4 slowly built a love story between Liam and Bobby.
An enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to experiencing the other books by Blake.
April 1, 2020
Sweet story
This was a very nice, funny story of finding love in the most unexpected places.
I really liked both Bobby and Liam. They are very different but both good men and fun in their own way.
I loved how they met and how their story unfolded. It was sweet, hot and fun.
The end felt a little rushed to me, I would have liked to see a bit more after some things happened, their resolution and the rest of the story was a little too fast.
But overall, a nice read for a pleasant afternoon
This was a very nice, funny story of finding love in the most unexpected places.
I really liked both Bobby and Liam. They are very different but both good men and fun in their own way.
I loved how they met and how their story unfolded. It was sweet, hot and fun.
The end felt a little rushed to me, I would have liked to see a bit more after some things happened, their resolution and the rest of the story was a little too fast.
But overall, a nice read for a pleasant afternoon
March 27, 2020
4.5
I devoured this book. Let me say I reached out to Blake when I read his first book because I loved it so much and this was no different.
I loved Liam and Bobby. They were angsty at first but turned sweet and tender and so caring for each other. I loved the time they spent together.
Their pasts are less than desirable with lack of love, being treated badly by ex’s and more. Don’t want to spoil anything.
I did knock of half a star because I’d the last chapter and I was left asking a lot of questions the way it ended. The epilogue helped answer some of those questions.
Overall I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I look forward to Blake’s future books
I devoured this book. Let me say I reached out to Blake when I read his first book because I loved it so much and this was no different.
I loved Liam and Bobby. They were angsty at first but turned sweet and tender and so caring for each other. I loved the time they spent together.
Their pasts are less than desirable with lack of love, being treated badly by ex’s and more. Don’t want to spoil anything.
I did knock of half a star because I’d the last chapter and I was left asking a lot of questions the way it ended. The epilogue helped answer some of those questions.
Overall I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I look forward to Blake’s future books
August 4, 2021
An arrogant, bossy CEO meets a cocky, stubborn young man, that's when you KNOW this is going to be a fun read! Bobby and Liam are funny, frustrating and totally enjoyable. This author always seems to provide an excellent story, this is that. I'd love to see more of this couple and Liam's wonderful Mother, but not those nasty, interfering ex's. As the mother of a self published author I know the ridiculous hardships of getting a book published, but reading the process was very interesting.
April 3, 2020
Twists and turns ahead
This book was my first by this author and. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
QuickPaced and informative, it led me through Bobby and LIam’s fun twisty relationship.
There is humour and sweetness to this book with a few watery eyes as well.
If you like fun books with intriguing characters, take a look at this one.
This book was my first by this author and. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
QuickPaced and informative, it led me through Bobby and LIam’s fun twisty relationship.
There is humour and sweetness to this book with a few watery eyes as well.
If you like fun books with intriguing characters, take a look at this one.
March 30, 2020
This is a very entertaining read. Bobby and Liam's story is a sweet slow burn. I couldn't stop reading once I start this book. Blake Allwood did a great job pulling me into this story. It is great to see how these two relationship develops.
April 3, 2020
This was such an interesting, adorable, charming, endearing, engaging, hilarious, sweet, enjoyable, delightful, grab-you-by-the-feels, slow burning, and totally awesome story. This is a new-to-me author, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
April 3, 2020
Slow-burn, alternating P. O. V
I really enjoyed this slow-burn, opposites attract story.
Alternating P. O. V. so you get an opportunity to really understand each M. C.
Really engaging characters that kept me interested with an overall cute and fluffy feel.
I really enjoyed this slow-burn, opposites attract story.
Alternating P. O. V. so you get an opportunity to really understand each M. C.
Really engaging characters that kept me interested with an overall cute and fluffy feel.
April 16, 2023
Bobby & Liam
I enjoyed this one. There were some times where the story moved at a good pace for the progression of their relationship and others where a lot happened at once and I got whiplash but the characters were likable and their story sweet.
I enjoyed this one. There were some times where the story moved at a good pace for the progression of their relationship and others where a lot happened at once and I got whiplash but the characters were likable and their story sweet.
March 31, 2020
i got bored halfway through this....
February 20, 2023
Bobby needed a change and he got it.
A typical romance, all tropes accounted for.
Fun and playful.
A typical romance, all tropes accounted for.
Fun and playful.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews