What do you think?
Rate this book
Incandescent
Delaney Roberts and Marcus Worthy-Davis have quite a few things in common. Both blue-collar workers in their forties, they’ve experienced the tragic loss of their wives and meet through their monthly grief group. Their connection is immediate, their friendship solidifying over texts and barstool confessions, neither feeling quite so lonely in the other’s presence.
When Marcus reveals to the group that he’s considering dating, it shakes Delaney to his core. He’s nowhere near ready, not when he feels on unstable ground with his teenage son and has vowed not to uproot his life again. Even if it means pushing his own needs aside. Even if Marcus’s announcement stirs something else inside Delaney, something he’s kept at bay for twenty years, and he suddenly sees their more tender moments in a different light.
The first time Marcus holds Delaney during a particularly rough night, the ache in Marcus’s chest, the one he tries hard to ignore, only intensifies. And when their slow-burning friendship sparks into a blazing fire, they finally indulge in each other to satisfy their needs. Marcus knows the arrangement is only temporary, but he feels a rightness with Delaney he can’t easily explain.
Soon enough, their longing becomes difficult to ignore. But love after loss is terrifying, the familiarity with pain and despair too close to the surface. To fan the flames of their connection, they’ll not only need to make room in their hearts but also take an enormous leap of faith.
When Marcus reveals to the group that he’s considering dating, it shakes Delaney to his core. He’s nowhere near ready, not when he feels on unstable ground with his teenage son and has vowed not to uproot his life again. Even if it means pushing his own needs aside. Even if Marcus’s announcement stirs something else inside Delaney, something he’s kept at bay for twenty years, and he suddenly sees their more tender moments in a different light.
The first time Marcus holds Delaney during a particularly rough night, the ache in Marcus’s chest, the one he tries hard to ignore, only intensifies. And when their slow-burning friendship sparks into a blazing fire, they finally indulge in each other to satisfy their needs. Marcus knows the arrangement is only temporary, but he feels a rightness with Delaney he can’t easily explain.
Soon enough, their longing becomes difficult to ignore. But love after loss is terrifying, the familiarity with pain and despair too close to the surface. To fan the flames of their connection, they’ll not only need to make room in their hearts but also take an enormous leap of faith.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2022
230 people are currently reading
887 people want to read
About the author
Christina Lee
55 books2,147 followersChristina writes romance in different sub-genres, mostly with LGBTQ characters, not only because she's part of the community, but because representation matters, and everyone deserves a happily-ever-after.
You can find more info on her website: www.christinalee.net. From there you can link to her Facebook reader group as well as her IG account and newsletter.
You can find more info on her website: www.christinalee.net. From there you can link to her Facebook reader group as well as her IG account and newsletter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
April 9, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a lovely story about two men dealing with grief and finding a connection with someone again. The family aspect is important in this one and both MCs' late wives play a big part in the story, so there is a certain sense of sadness throughout it.
The story is very slow paced, as Delaney and Marcus start as friends first. I liked their friendship, more than the actual romance part which I found just a bit underwhelming. I also liked the dynamics between Delaney and his son Grant. I loved Grant's character. And the interactions between Marcus and Grant were really sweet.
I have to mention the members of the support group, they were all fun and kind, and I thought it was cute how things played out in the end.
This was a lovely story about two men dealing with grief and finding a connection with someone again. The family aspect is important in this one and both MCs' late wives play a big part in the story, so there is a certain sense of sadness throughout it.
The story is very slow paced, as Delaney and Marcus start as friends first. I liked their friendship, more than the actual romance part which I found just a bit underwhelming. I also liked the dynamics between Delaney and his son Grant. I loved Grant's character. And the interactions between Marcus and Grant were really sweet.
I have to mention the members of the support group, they were all fun and kind, and I thought it was cute how things played out in the end.
April 7, 2022
well, this left me feeling very.... underwhelmed? i don't think it was bad per se, just very bland and boring to me. the characters felt flat and wooden, their motivations/actions were both overexplained and underdeveloped, the dialogue was often unrealistic, and even the sex scenes were dry af (like, literally... i'm pretty sure they have sex without lube at one point lmao).
i used to really enjoy Christina Lee when i was first getting into m/m romance, but i think as i've further explored the genre and found new authors i really click with, her writing style just doesn't really hook me anymore. 2.5 stars rounded up.
i used to really enjoy Christina Lee when i was first getting into m/m romance, but i think as i've further explored the genre and found new authors i really click with, her writing style just doesn't really hook me anymore. 2.5 stars rounded up.
April 11, 2022
*Barely 3 stars*
It was ok.
But nothing that would have sent my ‘feelometer’ into spinning or my heart racing.
I was interested because I’ve just read Tal Bauer’s ‘You and Me’ which deals with a very similar scenario. And because we get two mature, widowed men who are working hard to get on with life after their bereavement.
There is another teenager (just like in the above mentioned book) with a chip on his shoulder about various things, but all in all, Grant is actually not a bad sort, considering his age and his nerdiness, and I mostly didn't mind his on page time.
I’ve read a few books by this author, and liked most of them, but here, I did not particularly gel with her writing. So much telling, and not enough showing. So many mundane everyday activities withvery little interest to the reader! But mainly, her thinking and mine about what would feel ok or logical for a character to do and say seem on different planes.
Like this, for example:
I realize these are very little things, but somehow, in accumulation, they managed to put me off. Both men, in some strange way, never come across as the ‘mature’ men they’re supposed to be. I liked them enough, but somehow, something, somewhere did not feel right. And as for the sizzle factor … it could have been so much more! Rather than fireworks, we get a little cake sparkler instead.
All in all, very average, and barely 3 stars for me.
It was ok.
But nothing that would have sent my ‘feelometer’ into spinning or my heart racing.
I was interested because I’ve just read Tal Bauer’s ‘You and Me’ which deals with a very similar scenario. And because we get two mature, widowed men who are working hard to get on with life after their bereavement.
There is another teenager (just like in the above mentioned book) with a chip on his shoulder about various things, but all in all, Grant is actually not a bad sort, considering his age and his nerdiness, and I mostly didn't mind his on page time.
I’ve read a few books by this author, and liked most of them, but here, I did not particularly gel with her writing. So much telling, and not enough showing. So many mundane everyday activities withvery little interest to the reader! But mainly, her thinking and mine about what would feel ok or logical for a character to do and say seem on different planes.
Like this, for example:
I realize these are very little things, but somehow, in accumulation, they managed to put me off. Both men, in some strange way, never come across as the ‘mature’ men they’re supposed to be. I liked them enough, but somehow, something, somewhere did not feel right. And as for the sizzle factor … it could have been so much more! Rather than fireworks, we get a little cake sparkler instead.
All in all, very average, and barely 3 stars for me.
June 2, 2022
This was super sweet!
After reading You & Me, I was in a bit of a reading slump that thankfully ended quickly thanks to this lovely story.
Marcus and Delaney both lost their wives and meet in a grief support group. Marc has been in the group longer and makes the big decision to go on a date.
The date was awful but it was a catalyst when he brought it up at group especially that it was a date with a man. It brought to the forefront of Lane’s mind that he had several moments before his wife with men, even though he had never labeled himself as bisexual.
The chemistry between these two is realistic and perfect. They have plenty of ups and downs because nobody’s perfect but they work through it. It also grows naturally from friends to so much more.
There was a rather large cast of interesting characters. I especially loved Marc’s mom, aunt and sister. Then don’t get me started on Lane’s son, definitely gave me Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory) vibes.
The relationship between Lane and his son Grant grew so much as well. I loved seeing them change for the better, so that they could become closer. But the highlight after Lane and Marc was the friendship that grew between Marc and Grant. They were freaking adorable.
I also loved what Marc did for a living. Not gonna lie, at times I totally pictured Jay Blades from The Repair Shop. I got a kick out of how detailed the writer was with all of his many treasures.
Last but not least, the steam was on point. These guys were smoking together. Overall this was exactly what I was hoping for and more. I look forward to checking out more from this author.
After reading You & Me, I was in a bit of a reading slump that thankfully ended quickly thanks to this lovely story.
Marcus and Delaney both lost their wives and meet in a grief support group. Marc has been in the group longer and makes the big decision to go on a date.
The date was awful but it was a catalyst when he brought it up at group especially that it was a date with a man. It brought to the forefront of Lane’s mind that he had several moments before his wife with men, even though he had never labeled himself as bisexual.
The chemistry between these two is realistic and perfect. They have plenty of ups and downs because nobody’s perfect but they work through it. It also grows naturally from friends to so much more.
There was a rather large cast of interesting characters. I especially loved Marc’s mom, aunt and sister. Then don’t get me started on Lane’s son, definitely gave me Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory) vibes.
The relationship between Lane and his son Grant grew so much as well. I loved seeing them change for the better, so that they could become closer. But the highlight after Lane and Marc was the friendship that grew between Marc and Grant. They were freaking adorable.
I also loved what Marc did for a living. Not gonna lie, at times I totally pictured Jay Blades from The Repair Shop. I got a kick out of how detailed the writer was with all of his many treasures.
Last but not least, the steam was on point. These guys were smoking together. Overall this was exactly what I was hoping for and more. I look forward to checking out more from this author.
June 25, 2022
the most interesting character was delaney’s son grant. the two leads were pretty wooden and quite honestly there was no chemistry between them that i could see! mundane tasks were discussed ad nausuem. Tbh i didn’t care about the romance here. I enjoyed every single scene featuring grant and the discussion on grief was well done but the romance did nothing for me. Grant was annoying and frustrating and perpetually pissed off and I loved him for it. Everything his dad did embarrassed him. He reminded me of well…me! But instead of an obsession with history I was obsessed with one direction.☺️ I’d like to believe I was less annoying.😌😂 He felt like a real teen which doesn’t often happen in books. I was so much more invested in grant’s personal growth than either MC because he was so much more real. So much better written. It was nice. Everyone was nice. But I don’t think nice has to be boring and this just…was. Not much action here but there’s a whole lotta kitchen remodeling which was about as interesting as watching paint dry. Which also quite literally happened. Spoiler alert: they repainted their kitchen walls from yellow to white!!!!
April 9, 2022
Unfortunately I didn’t feel this the way I was expecting. With a story about two widowers finding love again with each other, you would think that there are a lot of emotions to feel, but, for me, there weren't. And that was quite a bummer, to be honest.
This book about Marcus and Delaney tells their story about how they lost their wives and how they met when joining a talk group. You don't get to witness their first encounter, for some reason the story starts somewhere in the middle, where they have already met, and already befriended each other, and that made me feel as if I got dumped in the midst of a story where a lot of things were already explained and told. Any prologue would have been a nice solution without having to actually go back to the beginning.
Then the story slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) tells us how their friendship changes in that they begin to see each other more often outside of the group. They are both blue collared men and both love working with their hands - they compliment each other in some projects that both men need to do, which gives them room to get to know each other even better. When Marcus announces he will try dating again and the real surprise about that comes with the fact that his date is a man, Delaney starts to remember how he used to have feelings for guys in his younger years and once again, their friendship changes. This time into something more.
This story is a slow burn, friends to lovers, and I'm usually on board for that. Plus the storyline about two widowers finding new love seemed interesting. This book really had potential, but for some reason, for me at least, it didn't deliver. It's not Christina Lee's writing, because I had already discovered in a former book that she can write in a way that speaks to me.
But with this book there seemed to be too much focus on the wives that had unfortunately passed away, about other family members (both biological and the late wives's families), about Delaney's son Grant, about the family dog. There was just too much on page attention for a lot of other people, page time that could have been used to deepen the romance. Of course it's important to know where these men come from, having been happily married and then losing their wives. But their feelings of grief didn't reach me emotionally, they didn't tug on my heart strings the way I had expected them to do. I was kind of annoyed about how much story there was and how few romance.
What I did like was how open and honest they were when Marcus and Delaney discussed their needs and their wants and how they sometimes felt guilty about moving on and needing someone else to love and to hold. Unfortunately I never really felt their connection and I couldn't get passed the feeling that their need to explore with each other didn't feel natural but rather forced.
So yes, I really wanted to love this more than I ended up doing. It wasn't a bad read, but I'm just kind of disappointed it didn't meet my expectations.
I kindly received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews. This is my voluntarily, unbiased and honest review
This book about Marcus and Delaney tells their story about how they lost their wives and how they met when joining a talk group. You don't get to witness their first encounter, for some reason the story starts somewhere in the middle, where they have already met, and already befriended each other, and that made me feel as if I got dumped in the midst of a story where a lot of things were already explained and told. Any prologue would have been a nice solution without having to actually go back to the beginning.
Then the story slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) tells us how their friendship changes in that they begin to see each other more often outside of the group. They are both blue collared men and both love working with their hands - they compliment each other in some projects that both men need to do, which gives them room to get to know each other even better. When Marcus announces he will try dating again and the real surprise about that comes with the fact that his date is a man, Delaney starts to remember how he used to have feelings for guys in his younger years and once again, their friendship changes. This time into something more.
This story is a slow burn, friends to lovers, and I'm usually on board for that. Plus the storyline about two widowers finding new love seemed interesting. This book really had potential, but for some reason, for me at least, it didn't deliver. It's not Christina Lee's writing, because I had already discovered in a former book that she can write in a way that speaks to me.
But with this book there seemed to be too much focus on the wives that had unfortunately passed away, about other family members (both biological and the late wives's families), about Delaney's son Grant, about the family dog. There was just too much on page attention for a lot of other people, page time that could have been used to deepen the romance. Of course it's important to know where these men come from, having been happily married and then losing their wives. But their feelings of grief didn't reach me emotionally, they didn't tug on my heart strings the way I had expected them to do. I was kind of annoyed about how much story there was and how few romance.
What I did like was how open and honest they were when Marcus and Delaney discussed their needs and their wants and how they sometimes felt guilty about moving on and needing someone else to love and to hold. Unfortunately I never really felt their connection and I couldn't get passed the feeling that their need to explore with each other didn't feel natural but rather forced.
So yes, I really wanted to love this more than I ended up doing. It wasn't a bad read, but I'm just kind of disappointed it didn't meet my expectations.
I kindly received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews. This is my voluntarily, unbiased and honest review
April 8, 2022
really struggled with this one
On the surface, this book sounded unique and intriguing. Two blue collar older widowed men grieving, one with a teenager, navigating through grief and life while taking solace in each other.
But the first 30% was allll story set up. Their pasts, their relationships with their wives, how their wives died, what it’s been like in the years since their wives died. It was A LOT of internal dialogue/story set up and I just wanted the *current* story to get a move on.
This is a slowwww burn. And once it started, it was still just… agonizingly slow to really get going. There is A LOT of focus on mundane tasks that have nothing to do with the furthering of the plot. It just… dragged.
So I’m still waiting for the story to get a move on AT 85%!!! EVERYTHING was packed into the last 10%. Like…. Tying up everything talked about in the first 90%, was jam packed into the last 10%.
This had potential because the connection between the MC’s was really sweet. But when newly out Delaney is still questioning holding hands in public with Marcus in the dang epilogue…? I just… meh. Wanted the HEA to be satisfying and it really wasn’t. This took forever to get through with no real pay off.
On the surface, this book sounded unique and intriguing. Two blue collar older widowed men grieving, one with a teenager, navigating through grief and life while taking solace in each other.
But the first 30% was allll story set up. Their pasts, their relationships with their wives, how their wives died, what it’s been like in the years since their wives died. It was A LOT of internal dialogue/story set up and I just wanted the *current* story to get a move on.
This is a slowwww burn. And once it started, it was still just… agonizingly slow to really get going. There is A LOT of focus on mundane tasks that have nothing to do with the furthering of the plot. It just… dragged.
So I’m still waiting for the story to get a move on AT 85%!!! EVERYTHING was packed into the last 10%. Like…. Tying up everything talked about in the first 90%, was jam packed into the last 10%.
This had potential because the connection between the MC’s was really sweet. But when newly out Delaney is still questioning holding hands in public with Marcus in the dang epilogue…? I just… meh. Wanted the HEA to be satisfying and it really wasn’t. This took forever to get through with no real pay off.
June 28, 2022
A sweet, slow burn that was unfortunately rather clunky at times.
December 19, 2023
Re-read Dec 2023
Two older men find the "one" they each need. Cleveland, Ohio.
Lost their wives, who they loved dearly, and became close friends, but neither knew of their secret.
Delaney. 41, has teen son, Grant, 16, his dead wife's folks and some family, plus has dark hair and blue eyes.
Marcus, 44, dark curly hair, black man with light brown eyes. He runs his shop that he got from his grandfather, and has a close family.
They become close while attending grief counseling meetings once a month. When their longing becomes overwhelming, they don't know how it will work.
These two men are more than deserving of some happiness and companionship. They have more love to give.
They tip-toe around, meet families as friends, and see each other on the sly after awhile. It's exciting and fulfilling, with Delaney's first times with M/M sexy times, plus they are vers.
Both men are wonderful people, solid, understanding, and caring. The son is a cute kid, a history buff, who stands out in his crowd. Delaney and his son have a coming out, and finally our men can be open and honest with everyone.
It's a terrific tale of older guys letting go of their hang-ups, and get to be free for the first time.
Lovely.
ENJOY !
=====
Two older men find the "one" they each need. Cleveland, Ohio.
Lost their wives, who they loved dearly, and became close friends, but neither knew of their secret.
Delaney. 41, has teen son, Grant, 16, his dead wife's folks and some family, plus has dark hair and blue eyes.
Marcus, 44, dark curly hair, black man with light brown eyes. He runs his shop that he got from his grandfather, and has a close family.
They become close while attending grief counseling meetings once a month. When their longing becomes overwhelming, they don't know how it will work.
These two men are more than deserving of some happiness and companionship. They have more love to give.
They tip-toe around, meet families as friends, and see each other on the sly after awhile. It's exciting and fulfilling, with Delaney's first times with M/M sexy times, plus they are vers.
Both men are wonderful people, solid, understanding, and caring. The son is a cute kid, a history buff, who stands out in his crowd. Delaney and his son have a coming out, and finally our men can be open and honest with everyone.
It's a terrific tale of older guys letting go of their hang-ups, and get to be free for the first time.
Lovely.
ENJOY !
=====
September 25, 2022
3 stars
Alright, nothing real special about it to make this stand out. Grant was cute, and loved how Marcus was able to form a bond with him.
This book did feel longer than it needed to be, but overall I do still enjoy Christina Lee’s writing!
Alright, nothing real special about it to make this stand out. Grant was cute, and loved how Marcus was able to form a bond with him.
This book did feel longer than it needed to be, but overall I do still enjoy Christina Lee’s writing!
August 15, 2022
DNF @ 54%
I feel like Marcus and Delaney had no personalities and there was too much time spent on explaining every little mundane task that they did.
I feel like Marcus and Delaney had no personalities and there was too much time spent on explaining every little mundane task that they did.
April 1, 2022
This beautiful book! The cover is dreamy and the story is engaging and bittersweet. This story talks about love after loss and how it can be a struggle to feel that it’s ok to move on. It touched so many parts of me and I loved being able to read Lane & Marc’s journey to happiness.
I am usually unhappy with children in books, especially teenagers. I think it’s in part to having teenagers myself and not every author writes a typical teen. I know Christina Lee has a son and she knew exactly how to express the attitude and vulnerability of a 16 year old boy. She did such a fantastic job of incorporating Grant into the story without making him a nuisance or a brat. I loved his interactions with Marc and I related to his arguments with his father.
This story is a slow burn, friends to lovers one and it was laid out in a way that wasn’t rushed. The pacing was good and cementing the friendship was important before the feelings became involved. The lost wives were mentioned without becoming a huge part of the building relationship and I felt like both the wives would be so happy that their husbands found love in each other.
I’d love a story about Grant someday. He was such an amazing character with his love of history and his historical outfits and t-shirts with funny sayings.
I have a huge smile on my face after reading this. That’s how I know a book has won me over.
**ARC provided for review
**all thoughts and opinions are my own
I am usually unhappy with children in books, especially teenagers. I think it’s in part to having teenagers myself and not every author writes a typical teen. I know Christina Lee has a son and she knew exactly how to express the attitude and vulnerability of a 16 year old boy. She did such a fantastic job of incorporating Grant into the story without making him a nuisance or a brat. I loved his interactions with Marc and I related to his arguments with his father.
This story is a slow burn, friends to lovers one and it was laid out in a way that wasn’t rushed. The pacing was good and cementing the friendship was important before the feelings became involved. The lost wives were mentioned without becoming a huge part of the building relationship and I felt like both the wives would be so happy that their husbands found love in each other.
I’d love a story about Grant someday. He was such an amazing character with his love of history and his historical outfits and t-shirts with funny sayings.
I have a huge smile on my face after reading this. That’s how I know a book has won me over.
**ARC provided for review
**all thoughts and opinions are my own
April 12, 2022
* 4.5 stars *
What a story! It's sweet, heartbreaking, and hopeful. It's about second chances, new starts, and moving forward. It's about learning to live again after being shattered to pieces and starting to be able to recall the good times of the past without breaking down all over again.
It's about Delaney and Marcus.
Delaney lost his wife almost two years ago, and he's trying to cope with everyday life without her for the sake of their teenage son. He attends a grief group where he meets Marcus, another widower close to his age. The story starts about a year after they met, so there's already a connection and a friendship in place. I liked the author's decision to start the story in this way. There was more time for them to deal with their emotions and think about their decision to move forward with someone new.
It wasn't something that happened at the drop of a hat or with some random person. They were friends first and foremost. The romantic feelings took a long time to form as their grief was still too raw when they first met. They were in similar situations, having each lost someone so close and important to them, so they could understand what the other was going through. Also, they were both reluctant and afraid of what moving forward would mean and how the people around them would take it.
There are many side characters in the form of their families, and they add depth to the story. The two main characters had responsibilities toward other people, especially Delaney, who had to put his son first. They also had to consider their closest family's feelings regarding them starting to date someone new. Not that they let that affect their actions, but it was one more thing they had to consider and deal with.
I liked the scenes where Marcus bonds with Delaney's son and the ones where the two MCs are dancing around each other, trying to make sense of their feelings. I also liked that the story is about two mature guys, as both MCs are in their early forties.
Even though I may have teared up a time or two, this is essentially a happy story about second chances and new love.
~ Copy provided by Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ~
What a story! It's sweet, heartbreaking, and hopeful. It's about second chances, new starts, and moving forward. It's about learning to live again after being shattered to pieces and starting to be able to recall the good times of the past without breaking down all over again.
It's about Delaney and Marcus.
Delaney lost his wife almost two years ago, and he's trying to cope with everyday life without her for the sake of their teenage son. He attends a grief group where he meets Marcus, another widower close to his age. The story starts about a year after they met, so there's already a connection and a friendship in place. I liked the author's decision to start the story in this way. There was more time for them to deal with their emotions and think about their decision to move forward with someone new.
It wasn't something that happened at the drop of a hat or with some random person. They were friends first and foremost. The romantic feelings took a long time to form as their grief was still too raw when they first met. They were in similar situations, having each lost someone so close and important to them, so they could understand what the other was going through. Also, they were both reluctant and afraid of what moving forward would mean and how the people around them would take it.
There are many side characters in the form of their families, and they add depth to the story. The two main characters had responsibilities toward other people, especially Delaney, who had to put his son first. They also had to consider their closest family's feelings regarding them starting to date someone new. Not that they let that affect their actions, but it was one more thing they had to consider and deal with.
I liked the scenes where Marcus bonds with Delaney's son and the ones where the two MCs are dancing around each other, trying to make sense of their feelings. I also liked that the story is about two mature guys, as both MCs are in their early forties.
Even though I may have teared up a time or two, this is essentially a happy story about second chances and new love.
~ Copy provided by Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ~
April 5, 2022
Amazing. I have no words to describe such a beautiful and heartful read
Read
June 19, 2022DNF @50%
Too slow, too much talking about the dead wives, too much preaching.
Too slow, too much talking about the dead wives, too much preaching.
May 2, 2022
4 ⭐️
November 8, 2022
DNF@49%
This book has been on my “current reading” shelf since May and now I remember why, I actually thought that if I take a break I might actually enjoy it but I was wrong, the MCs present themselves as teenagers with regard to their attraction, I get that they need to be tentative with each other especially considering they are widowers but explaining every little thing is just too much and it takes away from their “supposed” attraction which I don’t see at all
It’s a little cringy reading about them attempting to be intimate, they are better suited as friends than lovers
Grant is the only interesting character and I’d have loved to read about him further
This book has been on my “current reading” shelf since May and now I remember why, I actually thought that if I take a break I might actually enjoy it but I was wrong, the MCs present themselves as teenagers with regard to their attraction, I get that they need to be tentative with each other especially considering they are widowers but explaining every little thing is just too much and it takes away from their “supposed” attraction which I don’t see at all
It’s a little cringy reading about them attempting to be intimate, they are better suited as friends than lovers
Grant is the only interesting character and I’d have loved to read about him further
April 5, 2022
DNF’d at 80%. I just couldn’t connect with this book or the characters at all. I really tried because the plot was cute. This was my first book by this author and I think the writing is just not a good fit for me. For a book about two widowers, I expected to feel sadness or sympathy but I felt nothing.😕
August 1, 2022
Swet romance with mature men finding love after loss
This was a really sweet, relatively low angst, slow burn romance featuring two mature bisexual men who've both lost a beloved wife and who are dealing with the on-going grief.
It has a lovely gentle narrative as Marcus and Delaney connect first through their shared grief at a bereaved people's group and then into a supportive friendship.
Lane is also parenting a nearly 16-year-old son who he struggles to communicate with and navigating a sorrowful relationship with his wife's parents.
As the two men grow closer, it's a good feeling to realise Christina isn't going to pile on unnecessary angst or drama. They talk about their thoughts, hopes and fears and they deal with the hiccups as they come along.
I very much loved the secondary relationship that Marcus also develops with Lane's son Grant and the support of Marcus' mum as the story unfolds.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
This was a really sweet, relatively low angst, slow burn romance featuring two mature bisexual men who've both lost a beloved wife and who are dealing with the on-going grief.
It has a lovely gentle narrative as Marcus and Delaney connect first through their shared grief at a bereaved people's group and then into a supportive friendship.
Lane is also parenting a nearly 16-year-old son who he struggles to communicate with and navigating a sorrowful relationship with his wife's parents.
As the two men grow closer, it's a good feeling to realise Christina isn't going to pile on unnecessary angst or drama. They talk about their thoughts, hopes and fears and they deal with the hiccups as they come along.
I very much loved the secondary relationship that Marcus also develops with Lane's son Grant and the support of Marcus' mum as the story unfolds.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
April 19, 2022
There was a lot about the dead wives. Like. A lot.
April 14, 2022
RTC but I really enjoyed this one. It was so sweet and I had a good time reading it. I loved their friendship and how it slowly turned into a relationship and it was just so lovely to see. My one issue is that I wanted to see more of their relationship, but I still really enjoyed this one.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion
April 7, 2022
This is the kind of story I wanted Reclaim to be. It's deep, it has so many feelings, and it's painful in the best way. Kind of like touching a bruise, it hurts but you can't stop. I loved the way Christina handled the roller coaster that is grief. And the climax! It was certainly fulfilling. I'm so happy with it!
June 23, 2025
I ADORED these two being too chickenshit to address their feelings directly to each other and instead confessing things in small bits during grief group therapy(thereby getting an inbuilt captive audience over time).
Except John. Who, a WHOLE ass book (months! MONTHS!) and multiple mini confessions later....
“I’m confused,” John said, his face screwed up.
“Are you dense?” Frank replied
Thank you, Frank. For saying what we've all been thinking.
Because honestly, Delaney and Marcus had been soft launching their feelings for each other through vague confessions during group therapy for aaaaaages. Everyone had figured it out.(except John)
I won't lie, I thought it was really cute how neither had the courage to say hey, I kind of like you and would maybe want to try being more? But both are at the exact latitude and longitude to say fuck it, I love you and I really really want to date you. In front of the whole group.
In vague terms, but still. Obvious to everyone (except John) that they meant each other.
I liked that aspect of this.
But - and it's a big but for me, this had waaaaaay too much grief from the loss of both their wives.
I enjoyed the pining but it got to a point where I was banging my head against a wall thinking - can we please GET TO IT already!!!?
Did not help matters that Delaney had a son almost old enough to go to college but acted like a surly preteen for most of it. Reminded me of why I hate kids in romance.
Delaney spent so much time fearing the impact his feelings for Marcus would have on his son that this alone is yet another birth control method for me.
Like, damn man. Live a little. But maybe that's what parenting is? Dead wife and you STILL can't get your back blown out because your son(who already lowkey hates you) might hate you a teeny tiny bit more. Terrible business.
Anyway.
Not morose but definitely a bit heavy. Has a few standout moments.
Except John. Who, a WHOLE ass book (months! MONTHS!) and multiple mini confessions later....
“I’m confused,” John said, his face screwed up.
“Are you dense?” Frank replied
Thank you, Frank. For saying what we've all been thinking.
Because honestly, Delaney and Marcus had been soft launching their feelings for each other through vague confessions during group therapy for aaaaaages. Everyone had figured it out.(except John)
I won't lie, I thought it was really cute how neither had the courage to say hey, I kind of like you and would maybe want to try being more? But both are at the exact latitude and longitude to say fuck it, I love you and I really really want to date you. In front of the whole group.
In vague terms, but still. Obvious to everyone (except John) that they meant each other.
I liked that aspect of this.
But - and it's a big but for me, this had waaaaaay too much grief from the loss of both their wives.
I enjoyed the pining but it got to a point where I was banging my head against a wall thinking - can we please GET TO IT already!!!?
Did not help matters that Delaney had a son almost old enough to go to college but acted like a surly preteen for most of it. Reminded me of why I hate kids in romance.
Delaney spent so much time fearing the impact his feelings for Marcus would have on his son that this alone is yet another birth control method for me.
Like, damn man. Live a little. But maybe that's what parenting is? Dead wife and you STILL can't get your back blown out because your son(who already lowkey hates you) might hate you a teeny tiny bit more. Terrible business.
Anyway.
Not morose but definitely a bit heavy. Has a few standout moments.
June 5, 2022
2.5 stars - Incandescent is a story about Delaney (Lane) and Marcus (Marc). Both men lost their wives roughly 2 years ago and they meet in a grief support group. They quickly become friends and enjoy texting occasionally. Over time, they start spending more time together. But Lane is apprehensive about dating because he’s worried about his 16 year old son and how it would affect him. Honestly, Grant (Lane’s son) was the best part of this whole book.
With a title like Incandescent, I really expected more spark, more…something. Sure the two MCs had some chemistry, but everything about this book was low key. There was nothing that made my heart swoon or made me feel like I had to root for Lane and Marc as a couple. It was all kind of bland. I grew tired of Lane being wishy washy about things with his son. He needed to man up and have a conversation with him. Everything happened at a snail’s pace and it didn’t all fall together until the last couple of paragraphs of the last chapter.
Overall, this was an okay read, but after recently reading a very similar story about a couple of men in their 40s — one who was a widower, but both had teenage sons — this story fell flat. I find it interesting that both of these books were published within days of each other (the other one came out first) and their plot lines were so similar.
With a title like Incandescent, I really expected more spark, more…something. Sure the two MCs had some chemistry, but everything about this book was low key. There was nothing that made my heart swoon or made me feel like I had to root for Lane and Marc as a couple. It was all kind of bland. I grew tired of Lane being wishy washy about things with his son. He needed to man up and have a conversation with him. Everything happened at a snail’s pace and it didn’t all fall together until the last couple of paragraphs of the last chapter.
Overall, this was an okay read, but after recently reading a very similar story about a couple of men in their 40s — one who was a widower, but both had teenage sons — this story fell flat. I find it interesting that both of these books were published within days of each other (the other one came out first) and their plot lines were so similar.
June 26, 2022
Love after loss seems impossible. For Delaney and Marcus finding their way to one another wasn't simple or easy. It was full of grief over losing a spouse, learning what it means to fall in love with someone else but more than that it was much more about navigating this new life while remembering who you lost and cherishing what you have right in front of you.
Incandescent was a slow burn that built up from the first time we see Delaney and Marcus interact. The way that this story unfolded was perfection to me, anything faster would have been too much when both MC's were still grieving so much after their loss. Time doesn't necessarily matter but what does matter is finding that person who helps you smile. Who shows you that even doing something as mundane as having lunch can be enjoyable when you are doing it with the right person.
This book was much more about the journey than anything for me. Seeing the journey Marcus and Delaney take from friendship to lovers really hit me right in the feels. Not to mention Delaney's son Grant was a light for both these men even when they were at their darkest.
Incandescent was a slow burn that built up from the first time we see Delaney and Marcus interact. The way that this story unfolded was perfection to me, anything faster would have been too much when both MC's were still grieving so much after their loss. Time doesn't necessarily matter but what does matter is finding that person who helps you smile. Who shows you that even doing something as mundane as having lunch can be enjoyable when you are doing it with the right person.
This book was much more about the journey than anything for me. Seeing the journey Marcus and Delaney take from friendship to lovers really hit me right in the feels. Not to mention Delaney's son Grant was a light for both these men even when they were at their darkest.
April 19, 2022
Emotional
Recently, I've been really into books with more mature MCs(read: 40+) who discover themselves later in life for one reason or the other. So, when I saw a recommendation of this book, I just HAD to read it.
In a way, I'm glad I did. It was a Great, heartfelt story.
However, it was consistently dragged down by daily minutae of the characters at times. I guess because the author wanted to show the grieving process but that had the unfortunate effect of slowing down the pacing of the story.
Nonetheless,this didn't take away from the Palpable connection between Marc and Lane as their the relationship developed and grew into something more. It was very natural and felt authentic.
Go get this if you need some maturity and all the feels in your life ♥️
Recently, I've been really into books with more mature MCs(read: 40+) who discover themselves later in life for one reason or the other. So, when I saw a recommendation of this book, I just HAD to read it.
In a way, I'm glad I did. It was a Great, heartfelt story.
However, it was consistently dragged down by daily minutae of the characters at times. I guess because the author wanted to show the grieving process but that had the unfortunate effect of slowing down the pacing of the story.
Nonetheless,this didn't take away from the Palpable connection between Marc and Lane as their the relationship developed and grew into something more. It was very natural and felt authentic.
Go get this if you need some maturity and all the feels in your life ♥️
April 30, 2022
3,5 stars.
April 4, 2022
Incandescent was a touching, slightly melancholy, second chance romance between two men working through their grief. Ms. Lee sure knows how to tug on my heartstrings and she definitely did with this book!
While the basis for this story is sad, the story itself is a hopeful one. Delaney/Lane and Marcus met at a support group, after both their wives had passed away. A strong friendship formed between the two, which slowly evolved into so much more. It was lovely to see these two men find their way through their grief, to forge a connection, understanding that their new feelings in no way negated what they had with their wives. They shared some really sweet and heartfelt moments, and of course, a few that brought on the tears.
It was nice to see Lane's relationship with his son Grant. Grant was dealing with his own grief after losing his mother, and while things may have been rocky between he and his father, you could tell how much they truly loved each other. They had to navigate a "new normal", with just each other, and it was so touching to see them grow closer and understand each other better.
Incandescent was an emotional, lovely read. Everyone deserves a second chance at love and I really enjoyed seeing Lane and Marcus fall.
While the basis for this story is sad, the story itself is a hopeful one. Delaney/Lane and Marcus met at a support group, after both their wives had passed away. A strong friendship formed between the two, which slowly evolved into so much more. It was lovely to see these two men find their way through their grief, to forge a connection, understanding that their new feelings in no way negated what they had with their wives. They shared some really sweet and heartfelt moments, and of course, a few that brought on the tears.
It was nice to see Lane's relationship with his son Grant. Grant was dealing with his own grief after losing his mother, and while things may have been rocky between he and his father, you could tell how much they truly loved each other. They had to navigate a "new normal", with just each other, and it was so touching to see them grow closer and understand each other better.
Incandescent was an emotional, lovely read. Everyone deserves a second chance at love and I really enjoyed seeing Lane and Marcus fall.
April 19, 2022
My thesaurus offers "dull" as an antonym for Incandescent. I'd add "worthy", "bland" and "undistinguished". The MCs' voices are identical, their emotionally-literate musings straight out of a Therapy 101 manual.
But 2 stars because there's a decent examination of moving on from grief. And Lane's teenage son defiantly wearing historical dress on all occasions is awesome.
But 2 stars because there's a decent examination of moving on from grief. And Lane's teenage son defiantly wearing historical dress on all occasions is awesome.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews