Two Straights Too Many

Heroes of Port Dale #1

by Romeo Alexander

Moving to Daleport City to work at the local fire station was going to be hard. Then I met Cade. Turns out, I’d met my new best friend, and for two years, he’s been by my side through everything. The guys tease us about how close we are, but we’re straight, just good friends. Then Cade and I found ourselves having to pretend to date, pretend to be attracted to one another…And then we stopped pretending. As if having a female stalker and a harpy for a mother wasn’t enough, I’m also in a fake relationship with my best friend? Then we ended up kissing…and more. Elias is straight, I’m straight, and we suddenly want to do not so straight things. That’s pretty much where I am now. So tell me… what am I supposed to do? Elias and Cade, two straight firefighters and best friends, find themselves in a fake relationship that leads both men into territory they’ve never ventured into before. Can their friendship survive? Will they ever want to go back?

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2020

About the author

Romeo Alexander lives in Michigan, USA, with his dog and two cats. As a certified night owl, coffee and a wicked sense of humor keep him going most days, as does playing with flavors in the kitchen.

As a proud gay man, Romeo doesn't just write characters—he breathes life into them, infusing them with real-world trials, tribulations, and triumphant love stories. He doesn't just believe in love; he champions it, weaving narratives that prove love's healing power time and again.

Ready for some heart-melting, tear-jerking, and smile-inducing stories that stay with you long after you've turned the last page? Dive into Romeo Alexander's world where love always finds a way. Sign up for his newsletter to be the first to know about his latest literary adventures and grab some freebies along the way! https://romeoalexander.com/newsletter

Reviews

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ☆

Then they were facing one another again, though it was done so smoothly, so quickly, that Cade was left blinking and wondering when they'd moved. Elias was gazing down at him, blue eyes glowing in the lights around them, and filled with an intensity that Cade had never seen before.

it's always kinda scary yet exciting diving into a new author bc you don't know what to expect with their stories, writing style, etc but i'm so glad this one worked for me! 🥺

the main premise of this story is basically the two mcs, Elias and Cade, are firefighters who have been best friends for two years and are comfortable and so close with each other that people around them tease they are lovers; however, when this one woman keeps on making moves to Cade, he accidentally blurts out that him and Elias are dating and the story goes from there. 🤪 i loved how the first half sets up their friendship, showing just how close they are with each other. the way they spend more time in the other's place rather than their own and how they're on a level of knowing how to comfort the other when needed. i genuinely adored their friendship. halfway through is when we get the fake dating trope and let me just say... the scene at 48% when they were at the club and had that moment?? so hot and intense at the same time. i literally couldn't breathe and it's probably still my favorite moment of the book. 😩 i loved the transition they had from friends to lovers bc it's like nothing had changed... but they had a bit of adjusting seeing as they've only been with women before each other. what i loved about the realization is nothing felt dramatic or ott when it came to them needing space to think bc of their confusion. although Cade needed more time to think than Elias did, it wasn't annoying bc it didn't drag out and it had the right amount of pacing that made sense for his character. when they were finally bfs, pretty much the only thing that changed is they went from friends to lovers but the banters—their dynamic—was the same and it simply felt natural.

i wished we had more moments of them as a couple, but that was really my only 'complaint'. i adored them as individuals and together. <3

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firefighters, OMG, I love them.

Again a story with two straight guys (I understand that this is a VERY popular trope, but I hope to run across a book soon that has 'just' a couple of gay guys).

Still, taking it for what it is, it's simply AMAZING.
I loved Elias and Cade so much. They're great characters and even though their combination is a very frequently used template in MM (I'm thinking Adrien/Jake, Ty/Zane, Dan/Vadim, ...), it does AGAIN work perfectly well.

I especially grew fond of the quiet goliath Elias who seemed to have such a direct connection to his feelings it amazed me.

The plot is about Cade and Elias being straight best friends who work together as fire fighters. Cade's mom is a notorious socialite and tries to hook him up with a fellow socialite that Cade isn't interested in at all.

So when he is cornered, he comes up with this really dumb excuse why he can't date her: He's already in a relationship... with Elias!

So from now on, Elias needs to play along to keep Cade's admirer at bay.

But dancing and kissing together has them throw their heterosexuality out of the window pretty quickly.

It was a wonderful and calm ride towards a happy ending with those guys.

No big drama, an all around comfortable and yet pretty hot read.

A 5 star favorite!

[AussieMum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly tame romance, and I’m not talking about the sex. The whole plot was a bit flimsy. The character of Christine being both the reason for these two pretending to be fake boyfriends and then all but double-daring then to prove it in front of their coworkers at an event thrown by her with tax-payers money...and then her doing a 180 and being super supportive and being the reason the two men get their acts together and go for it... well, it left me feeling like I’d wasted my time reading this. And it’s not to say I didn’t like it. Just that I wish there was more depth, more feelings, more buildup, or even more time between the men to just be together. Because I did really like the characters, I just don’t think they were given enough to shine. Cute ending though.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few editing mistakes but still a fun book

3.5*

I do like Romeo Alexander's style, they write books which are just plain fun, even if they're sometimes in need to a better edit.

This is a friends to lovers which, while it had a bit of a stretch to believe the plot reasons for getting together, actually worked really well at the relationship element.

I'm not sure if all the series is connected like the Fort Dale books were, but I'll enjoy finding out 😁

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this a good book? Debatable.

Did this get my monkey brain through a night shift by reading it in a sitting? Yes

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars the end felt rushed.

[Rosabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a little bit short, but oh so good! 🥰😍

The story is about Elias and Cade, two straight firefighters that have been best friends since the day that they met. Elias is the silently strong guy, and Cade is the charismatic manwhore, BUT they encounter themselves in a difficult situation and have to pretend to be dating.

This guys were in love with each other at least for the last year of their friendship and they didn't know, the only aspect of their relationship that was not "boyfriend like" was that they didn't have sex, the rest was totally that. The particular situation that makes them have to pretend to date, was just an eye opener for them! And what an eye opener it was. *wink, wink*.

The story was well developed, the characters were beautiful, the pace was perfect and this is a series that I'm ready for.

Also Elias is latino, representing! 🔥🔥🔥 And yes, latin people can dance, i don't know why Caden felt impressed by it, WE 👏CAN 👏DANCE 👏. Period.

Loved it! Waiting patiently for the next one! ❤

[Denise H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elias and Cade are BFFs, firefighters and hard working guys.
Cade's family is rich and his mom is domineering. Cade has slept around quite a bit with lots of women, and he was stalked in the beginning, but nothing was resolved.

The story moved on to Cade wanting to discourage a snooty gal his mom wants him to marry. So, he pretends Elias and himself were together. They both go along with it, and stay with it even when it goes hugely public. A first drunk kiss leads to more and we see our men's deep thoughts on the reality of their feelings.

The story moves quickly and has a great HEA.

Fun, 1st time M/M sexiness, is a friends to lovers,
plus GFY x 2.
ENJOY !

======

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elias y Cade han sido mejores amigos desde que Elias entro en la estacion de Bomberos donde trabajaba Cade. Ahora despues de un par de anos pasan mas tiempo juntos que separados, conocen todos los secretos del otro y son capaces de respaldar al otro tanto en el trabajo como en la vida personal. Pero todo eso cambia un dia cuando se ven obligados a finjir que son novios para que Cade pueda escapar de una mujer con la que su madre quiere comprometerlo. Pero lo que comenzo como una mentira poco a poco se fue convirtiendo en verdad, ahora que esta pareja de hetereosexuales se ha dado cuenta que la atraccion entre ellos no es solo amistad sino algo mas.
Ahora deberan aceptar que no son lo que pensaban y abrir la mente a la mejor experiencia de sus vidas.

El libro es entretenido, es exactamente lo que indica el titulo y la sinopsis, una pareja de amigos heterosexuales que se convierten en pareja romantica. Tiene sus momentos divertidos, sus momentos locos y sus momentos de drama (que son tan tontos que casi ni los menciono), pero es una buena lectura para pasar el rato, eso si, facilmente olvidable.
Me imagino que toda la serie sera parecida, pero voy a continuarla a ver que otras historias nos trae.

[Lori¸¸¸.•*❀Ɍɛɑɗs̱LɪƙɛIʈs̱H̱ɛɍJɔɓ 유❤유 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent quick read, but it was a little too emo in parts for me or at least one of the MCs was.

The friendship of the MCs was a plus and I appreciated that at least one of the female characters didn't end up to be a complete shrew.

[haletostilinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. This is my second outing with this author and I have enjoyed both works by this author. It's safe to say that I'll be reading more.

There are tiny issues such as commas in the wrong place, making sentences choppy and jarring, but overall it wasn't too glaring or too frequent - mostly found them near the beginning/middle - and the story and characters make up for those few choppy sentences.

These two, Cade and Elias, had such great chemistry. They were both totally straight, but they were so close that everyone at the fire station where they worked teased them about being "boyfriends" often.

And when they have to pretend to be in a relationship, and even kiss, turns out boyfriends might be the path these two are on.

When they kiss, they feel it, and when more happens, they know there might be more to explore. Cade especially freaks out a little about it all. Elias is a little wowed by the change, but he's such an easy going guy that he isn't too freaked out by it, and almost takes the change in their dynamic in stride.

And ya know, sometimes you really, in your heart, feel your straight - or some other sexuality - your whole life, and then you meet someone, or fall for someone, or are attracted to someone you didn't think you ever would be attracted to, and you have to reevaluate your whole sexuality.

And these two don't really come to a conclusion except 'not straight.' Which works, because they both aren't exactly attracted to men in general, at least from what we get and how they think, but they are to each other, because it's Cade and Elias, they love each other, are falling in love. Probably already are.

Sometimes it's the person more than what they look like, and then as you fall for the person, what they look like becomes something you're attracted to.

We could call them omnisexual, which is noticing gender but not caring, in the end, or it just doesn't stop one from being attracted to a gender. But it just happens these both have only noticed women up until each other, because they've never really been close enough to other men except each other. And they could just be...99% into women and 1% into men. It can happen.

Sometimes it just takes who the person is more than their gender *shrug*.

Either way, these two fall for each other, and it was really enjoyable to read. I did take off one star because I felt that it ended too fast. I wish more time had been spent on them settling into a sexual and romantic relationship.

The build up was good, really good, I think. It treated two supposedly straight men falling for each other and dealing with that well, and getting them to the point where it was believable. Seeing how close their friendship was, how already affectionate they were towards each other, physically and otherwise, how they had thoughts like "I enjoyed him sharing a bed with me (platonically at that point) more than any of my past bed partners" and how they just wanted to be with each other all the time. It can easily translate to romantic love.

I just wish that once we got there with these two, that this had gone on a little longer. This essentially ended right after these two got together officially, and I just wanted to ruminate in their relationship a little longer. Even the epilogue which was set a year later, while nice to see a snippet of them together later on in their relationship, was relatively short.

I just would have liked more. These two were so good together, and seeing how they would have navigated the start of that relationship would have been awesome. Not even a lot more, but maybe just seeing how they navigated the new change in their relationship as they settled into one. I also wish, on a side note, that the sex had been steamier. These two had the chemistry for it, so I was hoping it could have been more detailed and steamy, is all.

But overall, this was really good and a nice, enjoyable read if you're just looking for something fun and light to read. I definitely recommend it!

Two thumbs up from me! 🥰

[Gustaf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh look, maybe this wasn't bad per se but it was shallow. So very shallow. It lacked any kind of depth and while that's fine and all for a fast, quick read, a story like this, where not one but two guys suddenly go from straight to bi there's a need for some depth. I liked Elias a lot though. So that's something.

[Papie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story of Cade and Elias, two "straight" best friends who pretend to be boyfriends and end up wanting more. A few things didn't work for me, like how Christine randomly became Cade's friend. What? Why? How? And through most of the book I was annoyed at how much Cade was letting his mother tell him what to do, but at least he eventually put a stop to it. I would have also liked to hear from Cade's father and see how he felt about the whole thing. I also felt at times that Elias was much more into the relationship than Cade, and that made me a little sad. But it all worked out in the end and we get a HEA epilogue.

On a different note, the book is in need of better editing. There are lots of grammatical errors, repetitive wording ("the man" all over the place), and expressions that make no sense. It just takes away from the sweet and sexy story, because I find myself rereading sentences to try and understand them.

Overall I enjoyed it and will keep reading this series.

[~BookNeeds~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed more, super short but very endearing. Elias and Cade had excellent chemistry. I loved it. I think this is one of the best GFY books I’ve ever read.

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 1/2 stars. This is my third book by Romeo Alexander and it’s my favorite. It’s the story of two straight best friends who slowly come to the conclusion that they want a relationship. It was a sweet slow burn and a fun read.

[Emanuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, I'll be honest. I started this because it was a cheap buy on kindle and because I wasn't looking for a particuarly demanding or challenging read for my next book. I didn't have very high expectations but I gave it a try regardless. All I can say is that I enjoyed this a lot more than a) I thought I would and b) I should! The plot is pretty much there on the cover, a plot as old as time and a recurring fantasy among many homo- and openminded heterosexuals.

But first things first. It's written in a very simple way, which for a night time read, is ideal. Having said that, I lost count how many times Cade grunted or Elias snorted but hey...can't have it all!
It's very easy to read and the way the chapters are given in each character's view, it's like reading diary entries, giving you a better insight into their minds and thoughts.

Speaking of characters, these specific ones could make or break this. And their chemistry and likeability definitely makes this the enjoyable read it is. They are nice guys, they are funny, you care about them and you believe the bromance between them. OK, perhaps the sleeping on the same bed part was a bit of a stretch but you go along with it. The rest of the characters are there and they're not; Matt is my favourite. His line about the deep forest had me laughing out loud, it's the funniest thing I've read a while.

Going back to the bromance bit, there are parts that made me shout, "oh, come on, as if!" giving me the impression that they might not have been the 'straightest' straights in the village (cringing at the use of labels, I know). On the other hand, what I really appreciated, is the fact that they never asked, are we gay now? Or bi? There were more, does it matter? There's a part in the story about being (in bed), next to someone who loves you and you love back and that's all there is to it. Which I thought it's a lovely, universal sentiment I wholeheartedly applaud.

Last but definitely not least, we have to talk about the hot bits. The sexy parts. The sex! It's where, for me, the story moved a bit too fast but I can't say I minded it that much! Also, I don't know why I thought MM stories would be a bit crude or crass when it came to that, but I was pleasantly surpirsed this wasn't the case. The language is real without being offensive, the descriptions are imaginative and detailed and the images they bring to mind satisfyingly vivid to put it nicely. Finally, it's not the purpose of the story, it doesn't take over but when it does you definitely go with it.

I would have loved for it to be longer. I would have loved that annoying mum somehow creating more difficult situations for them or reading how their navigate their lives/work/social circles as a couple. But I'm a sucker for a happy ending - pun intended - so I'm definitely not complaining.

[Marthea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3+
Ten rok jest tak naprawdę trudny w realu od samego początku, że pisanie jest w nim wyzwaniem - nie mam na to siły 🤷‍♀️
Niech niezmiennie przy książkach Romeo Alexandra będzie myśl, że OSOBIŚCIE naprawdę mi odpowiada jego styl - i nawet, jak niektóre książki w jakiś tam sposób powielają inne, nie przeszkadza mi to, bo czyta mi się zawsze świetnie 😁
Do tej pory tylko jeden raz miałam problem z samą historią i jej bohaterami - na kilkanaście przeczytanych 😁

[Kate V · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.5 stars!

Two Straights Too Many is the first book in the Heroes of Port Dale series and features Elias and Cade. They are firefighters and best friends. Best friends to the point that people tease them about being in a relationship. Their chemistry and connection is organic and comfortable and they find acceptance and comfort in one another. However, they are both straight. Yes, it's a trope that is used often but Romeo did a nice job with it.

When Cade drags Elias to an event that his crappy mom makes him attend, a woman that has been after him continues to push for a date with him. On an impulse he says he's in a relationship with Elias who plays along. Their little white lie snowballs and before they know it, they're testing the deeper waters of their relationship.

Elias was the serious and open one of their coupling and Cade was the easy going and impulsive one but they fit perfectly together. I really appreciated that half the book was spent showing the reader their friendship before diving into the romantic. But when the romantic part came along, it was so genuine and real. There was a seamless transition from friends to lovers despite the fact that it took Cade a hot minute to come to terms with the direction of their new connection. I liked that neither of them tried to put a label on their sexuality. They just were and realized it didn't matter because they had each other. The flow of the story felt so natural and meaningful.

While there wasn't a lot of steam in here because of the books shorter nature, the intimate moments were full of passion, understanding, and appropriate humor. My only complaint is I wish we had had more time with them as a couple (and maybe a different book cover lol). I probably could have read another 100 pages of this couple. This is a new author for me and I can honestly say I am so excited to read more of his backlog. I will definitely be continuing this series!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hoot. Elias is Cade's plus one to stuffy events his family makes him go to because at least the booze is good and he gets to hang out with his best friend. Then they're fake dating? I don't know, it happened fast for Elias too. Then they're kissing and whoops.

I am very glad that Cade invited his mother to get forked because she was the worst.

Port Dale had two less straights to worry about in their population by the end of the book.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very generous rating. This one occasionally felt like it was written by an immature teenager; it was downright juvenile in places, such as with Christine and the circumstances for the fake relationship. I got bored towards the end and could not wait for the book to end, which is never a good sign. I lost count of how many times the word “weird” was used. I’m also pretty sure Elias’ mother got a new name somewhere in the span of one chapter.

However, I liked Elias as a character. Matt was pretty cool too. Cade was okay, even though his “womanizing” was emphasized one time too many in the beginning. I liked the scene where Elias told Keith off as well as the one where Cade finally stood up to his mother. The ending was rushed, but at that point I was just happy to be done with it already.

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two Straights Too Many - MM (Heroes of Port Dale Book 1)

Elias and Cade have been best friends since Elias arrived to work at Port Dale Fire Station. Both men work on the same Engine Team. Their work buddies always joke about them being more than friends because they are so close, they socialise together and Cade often sleeps over after a night out drinking with buddies.

Cade has a reputation as a manwhore, always with a different woman. It upsets his Socialite, social climbing mother and she spares nothing in her efforts to get him to settle down and marry.

Elias is a quiet, deep thinking mature man who just hasn’t met the right woman yet. He’s not in any hurry, he just enjoys having a great friend like Cade. They can endure the ribbing from their workmates.

That is, until Cade’s mother’s intervention with a ‘suitable woman’. Christine is a high profile Local Councillor who has set her sights on Cade with his mother’s approval.

When both Cade is forced to attend a Local Council function organised by his he begs Elias to accompany him. During the evening Christine zooms in, trying to get Cade to date her. Having had a few drinks too many Cade says No, he’s already seeing someone. “Is it someone I know” asks Christine. “Him”, looking at Elias. Elias always has his friends back and promptly nods and agrees.

Not giving up that easily, Christine sets in motion a series of events following a few well placed phone calls.

Can Cade and Elias’s genuine friendship withstand the focus of attention from workmates, and family after their ‘new relationship’ is brought to their attention.

I really liked Cade and Elias’s real friendship, they were so compatible together. So glad that there wasn’t too much angst due to that parental aggressive interference.

This is a relatively short read of just under 200 pages.

I will catch up with some more of Port Dale series from Romeo Alexander soon.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, and quick read but it was super short so I feel like the characters didn’t really get to have enough time transitioning from friends to lovers. They don’t really get together until about 75% in and by that time the book is basically done so I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if it was a little longer.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Two Straights Too Many is an entertaining romance by Romeo Alexander. The first book in the Heroes of Fort Dale series, I am left pleased and looking forward to what comes next.

This is the story of Elias and Cade, two friends who are roommates and co-workers. With a sudden fake boyfriend comment, cue the fun.

What follows is a tale with a lot of pretending that leads to some hot sexual exploration. It's the story of two firefighters, with some manipulation and threats, as well as a controlling mother and a little surprise at the end.

Overall, it's a story of two straight friends and their sexual realization. I enjoy the fact that they treated one another as platonic boyfriends for quite a while. This new pretend dating aspect of their relationship just opened their eyes for them.

These two are fun and hot. The writing is just my style, easy to follow, flowing well with excellent dialogue. There are a couple of things that seemed forced, but I didn't really care. I was enjoying it too much to get picky.

Too Straights Too Many is a fun, delightful friends to lovers romance. Be sure to check out this Romeo Alexander read the next time you want a fluffy roommates romance.

[Ziezie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read many MM romances but it’s always either both are gay or one is gay and the other is straight or both are bi or one is bi and the other is straight. I’ve thought I’ve read it all. Evidently not. So when I stumbled on to this book on GR, I had to read it stat! And I did and it was cute and sweet. Low angst too.

The two MCs were very likeable and I love how comfortable they are together. They practically know almost everything about each other coz they’re besties so even though they kind of freaked out a bit when they realised they were attracted to each other, it felt natural and they are willing to give it a try. So if you’re between heavier reads and want a short and sweet story of how two besties fall in love with each other then read this.

[Shades N Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more. Two straight best friends got caught up in a fake relationship and found out that they had more than friendship feelings for each other. For lack of a better term, it was too easy. I did like how they were confident in their feelings for each other, yet this book lack dept. I wanted so much more feelings when it came to the transition from friends to lovers. For two straight men, who never had any thoughts of being with men, I wasn't sold. I wanted more relationship development between the couple.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/4

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still deciding on whether to give it 2.5 or 3 stars. I need to think on it for a day or two. RTC.

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I picked this up randomly because I've read and enjoyed a couple of books by this author - their books are fun to read, and sometimes 'fun' just hits the spot.

This is a double OFY/GFY story about two best friends - Cade and Elias - whose closeness frequently leads to their workmates joking that they're a couple. The plot is a bit flimsy; Cade comes from a wealthy background and knows his parents are merely 'indulging him' in his career as a firefighter and expect him to return to the family fold and way of life soon. His mother is keen for him to marry the right kind of woman and has one in mind; Cade isn't interested in her, but she - Christine - doesn't seem to understand that (not that he's said "no" outright) and still seems intent on making a play for him. But Cade has had enough, and ends up telling her that he and Elias are an item just to get her off his back.

A couple of other complications arise because of this, which means the two men have to carry on the charade that they're together - except for the fact that it's starting not to feel like one.

What makes the story work is the way the central relationship is written, and the characters themselves, who are funny, likeable and easy to care about. Their 'bromance' is believable, they have great chemistry and it's clear early on that they're a couple in every respect except the sex. When they do cross that line, Cade freaks out while Elias, although a little blindsided by what's happening, manages to take it more in his stride and is open to seeing where things go.

I liked that there's no focus on labels - Cade and Elias don't worry about whether they're gay or bi or pan or whatever, they're just 'them' and are attracted to - and falling in love - with each other and that's all they need. There's a nice line near the end when they wake up together and one of them (Cade, probably?) thinks about being in bed next to someone he loves and who loves him back, and that being all there really is to it.

The final section is a bit rushed, but I enjoyed the story overall; the writing is engaging and the author handles the trope well. Two Straights too Many is a cute and enjoyable besties-to-lovers romance.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What started out as a joke turns into something more…something that could cost me the best friend I’ve ever had."
Elias is the strong silent type, a bit of a grump sometimes, but definitely someone you can depend on. Cade is not leading the life his mother especially wants. Furthermore, he doesn't intend to and doesn't give two figs how "unhappy" she is. What is wrong with the parents in these stories? The man is 27 years old! Anyway...Despite being opposites in personalities and how they were raised, Cade and Elias are the best of best friends as well as work partners at the fire station. Over the years they've formed a solid friendship...but after an act born out of desperation, their mere friendship soon becomes a lot more "complicated". The way they worked this out was sweet and sometimes funny. Try to ignore Cade's mother...he'll take care of her, and you can cheer as loud as you want:)

Like all of Romeo Alexander's books this one was well written and gave us some really wonderful characters along with an intriguing storyline that has some unexpected twists, laughs, and action, while dealing with family issues, confusing emotions, long lasting and new friendships,(I hope Matt soon gets his story )... sizzling chemistry, passionate encounters, genuine love, and a "Happy Ever After" that will leave you smiling.

[H.M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book. Low-angst and with a happy ending. I love it when the MCs discover themselves during the course of a new relationship and with Cade and Elias, I got exactly that.

Full disclosure: Fake dating is one of my two favorite romance tropes, so I knew I was going to be happy.

This was a fun popcorn read. Nothing too deep, but great for a few hours of entertainment while I listened.

Well done, Mr. Alexander. I'm already listening to Seeking Sanctuary from the Men of Fairlake series.