Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Do-Over #2

Rediscovered

Rate this book
Watching his fake fiance stumble out of a Vegas chapel with a husband who wasn’t him was the best thing that could have ever happened to Harrison Andrews. There’s only one man Harrison wants to be with, and it’s the one man he can’t have. Why can’t Harrison put his heart on the line and go after the one he always wanted? His old friend has thrown caution to the wind and married a stranger. Why can’t he have what he needs?
Jack Marshall is used to Harrison’s cold feet . Raised as step-brothers, their teenage years were little more than Jack pushing and Harrison pulling away. When they tumble into a Vegas hotel bed together, Jack is ready for a repeat of their past.
Instead, Harrison and Jack rediscover the passion that first brought them together. Harrison learns things about Jack he never knew, and Harrison’s acceptance gives Jack hope that a happy ending could exist for them. Still, he worries Harrison may let their families push them apart forever.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 8, 2022

41 people are currently reading
97 people want to read

About the author

E.M. Denning

97 books542 followers
EM Denning has more than twenty romance novels under her belt and has become an author you can rely on to bring you emotionally endearing, soft and fuzzy, stories. She is well known among her friends for her love of naps and sarcasm. She spends her free time reading as many romance novels as she can get her hands on.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
76 (34%)
4 stars
88 (39%)
3 stars
42 (19%)
2 stars
13 (5%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for Dani.
1,671 reviews320 followers
October 19, 2023
I'm kinda confused about what this was supposed to be in all honesty.

From the blurb I assumed there'd be a bit of angst with the relationship being between stepbrothers, but there was absolutely no angst or tension!

Also one character has depression but it's referred to like it's just a little mood swing and never really explored fully. The other has massive self-esteem issues, but again they're just brushed over and everything is made better with sex 🙄🙄🙄.

This felt more like an outline than a story, and there was a lot of repetition which could have been edited out so the bigger topics introduced could have actually been explored. The irony that one of the characters was an editor...

Book one was too far fetched and shallow, but this was actually even more absurd and even shallower!

The only character I really enjoyed was Max, but he's just a background character who pops up a few times unfortunately! All the main characters basically had the same personality but with one small alteration, and it just made for two rather boring and unengaging reads.
Profile Image for Janet (iamltr).
1,225 reviews85 followers
June 5, 2022
First off, I need to make sure that everyone knows that this picks up right at the elopement of the couple from the first book. I did not read the first book, but was able to keep up with what was going on.

Secondly, this is not a will they/wont they situation. The get so the little angst is about their own hang ups and their horrible family.

Now onto the story. Jack and Harrison (Harry) met when they were teens and their parents got married. Harrison has major depression and Jack likes to dress femme. Neither parent supported them at all even when they were children. Jack chased Harry really hard, but Harry refused to let them get physically close. They basically ignore each other for years and Harry was forced into being engaged to Rowan. Harry would have still gotten married, if Rowan had not eloped during the bachelor party in Vegas.

This paragraph in the books explains it all rather well.



I enjoyed this greatly and will be going back to read the first book to get the details on what happened with Rowan and Sid.
Profile Image for Heather Duff.
1,844 reviews38 followers
June 4, 2022
This is the perfect Saturday Summer read. Adorable, light, sexy, and down-right feel-good.

Harrison was a bit of a mystery in book one, and we have all waited (im)patiently to find out how he would handle the fallout of his fake fiance marrying someone else in Vegas.

Turns out he does just fine…in the arms of Jack, his step-brother, and the man he’s been pining for, well, forever. They are both adorable, and like kids in a candy shop now that they’ve been set free to finally explore their love. When it’s right, it’s right - be damned the people who don’t agree.

“Perhaps Jack was too picky, spoiled by Harrison, who’d always looked at him like he was exactly what he needed him to be.”

The two of them together are about as lovey-dovey as you can get and it is everything you need from a sweet low-angst story.

< ARC provided by GRR and this is my honest review >
Profile Image for Lelyana's Reviews.
3,415 reviews400 followers
May 19, 2022
This was sweet, too sweet and borderline boring for my liking.
There's zero to none angst. The sex were too many(?), or I'm getting too old for this trope.
Not my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Ed Davis.
2,893 reviews99 followers
June 24, 2022
This book grew on me. I started out not liking it at all. Jack was just such a drama queen I just wanted to smack him. I didn’t give up because this is written by one of my favorite authors so I figured I’d end up liking it. I did, but not as much as the first book. I must admit I liked how things turned out with Jack and Harrison’s parents.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,077 reviews517 followers
June 11, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars


Rediscovered is the second book in E.M. Denning’s Do-Over series and is the companion novel to Rearranged, which is Rowan and Sid’s story. We get some hints there that something is up with Jack and Harrison, and here we see it play out. While the romance stands alone here, this story does tie with the first book in terms of some of the key plot points, and I think having read them in order will be helpful, but not strictly required.

I like the way Denning set up these two books with the stories for both Rowan and Harrison, sort of giving us both sides of the journey. It is fun to see this book play out, as the timelines overlap, and so we get to find out what was going on all the while with Harrison while Rowan and Sid were getting together.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.


Profile Image for Florence ..
930 reviews294 followers
June 13, 2022
RTC but I really enjoyed this one. It was super sweet and I loved how devoted to each other the main characters were. This book just really worked for me and I had the best of time reading it.

I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
Profile Image for Ashley.
494 reviews4 followers
June 1, 2022
3.2 star read for me. Harrison and Jack are step-brothers who are in love and feel free to be with one another after Harrison's arranged fiancée is seen eloping with someone else. Normally I love this kind of story but I felt like I was missing huge chunks of the backstory and perhaps that is my fault for not reading the 1st book.

The book constantly refers to how Jack used to over the top flirt and come on to Harrison but we get no prior build up of that to feel the angst or love and tension between the two. The details of why Jack's father and Rowan's parents initially arranged the marriage are glossed over as is why Jack's dad was so vindictive to fire Harrison.

I love a good stepbrother story but this just missed the mark for me purely on backstory.
Profile Image for Abrianna.
Author 42 books267 followers
April 23, 2022
I loved this book. I loved it on a different level than I expected. I was excited for Harrison and Jack to get a story because Harrison was cagey about what he was up to in Rearranged, but this book hit me in places I didn’t expect. In her usual low-angst, poetic style, EM Denning wrote a book about two people who hid their scars deep inside. It was soft and squishy, but the characters were real and vibrant and the emotional connection I felt to them blew me away.

Harrison seems calm and steady on the outside, cold almost. But that is far from the truth. In actuality, he’s a mess who eats green beans straight from the can and is hopelessly and helplessly in love with his step brother. He has so many qualities and quirks that reminded me of myself that I was caught off guard. In a lot of places, I could see myself in him and God did that do things to my insides. Harrison’s mental health has been a sticking point for him his entire life, but the way EM Denning handles it is beautiful and soft. She shows Harrison in all his messy glory but there’s so much more to him than that. He’s soft-hearted and he sees Jack. Sees in him ways that Harrison himself wants to be seen.

Jack. I’m keeping Jack. He’s mine now. He’s soft and sweet and so vulnerable and I absolutely fell in love with him from the beginning. He’s been hurt before, by other people who weren’t worth his time and by Harrison as well. He just wants to be loved for all that he is. He’s the absolute sweetest and I want to keep him safe and warm and loved forever.

These two are the best. Their love for one another is so soft and pure. They don’t make each other better just by loving one another, but they help each other see the loveable parts of themselves. Harrison helps Jack feel beautiful and cherished in ways he’s never had before. Jack understands Harrison’s quirks and mental illness in a way that no one else was willing to do before. They care for one another and you can feel it pour off the pages. These characters came to life in the sweetest of ways. It’s definitely one of my top EM Denning books.

Not only do we get the sweetest relationship from Harrison and Jack, but we get to see Rowan and Sid at times too. Rowan shows up for Harrison in big ways, even though their relationship got weird because of their parents’ scheme, they’re learning how to be friends again now that they’re married to the men they were always meant to be with. These two books were wonderfully written and executed, and reading them was a joy.
Profile Image for Dixiecowgirl.
1,437 reviews25 followers
June 12, 2022
Sweet slow-burn story that's filled with steamy moments and great characters. I really enjoyed Jack and Harrison together. These two guys bring out the best in each other, once they acknowledge their connection. The story is well paced and the plot is engaging and rewarding to read from cover to cover. There is little to no angst between Jack and Harrison and I really like them together.

This is book two of the Do Over series and can be read as a stand alone.

I was gifted this book from Gay Romance Reviews and i freely give my honest opinion and review.
Profile Image for Xanthe.
2,531 reviews46 followers
June 3, 2022
So good to have Harrison and Jack's story after it was hinted at in book one. I do love a good stepbrother romance and Harrison and Jack have been dancing around each other for years but never close enough to keep everyone else happy, especially their parents.
After seeing Rowan and Sid come of out of the wedding chapel, Harrison finally decided to take what he wants for a change. He and Jack deserve the love and happiness they both know they can give each other. Of course, some will find it a little odd but their parents, Jack's father especially, is exceedingly angry and it takes a minute before they discover the truth as to why (though this is revealed in book one). I love the obvious adoration they have for each other and their chemistry is off the charts. Both are accepting of each other just as they are, including mental health and a certain kinky secret.
This is good addition to the series, wonderfully written by E.M. Denning.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
399 reviews4 followers
May 17, 2022
This book was awesome. The characters are so cute together. The book is well written and a quick read
Profile Image for J.L..
Author 14 books72 followers
June 2, 2022
This book continues the tale of the other groom in the failed arranged married from the first story, along with evoking plenty of thematic echoes to create an excellent duet of stories. Denning held back a lot of Harrison’s half of the story in Rearranged in order not to spoil this half of the narrative. The man who felt more like some sort of plot device before is now a fully fleshed-out character who deserves his own love story instead of a fake marriage to a friend who would never have become more.

Instead, Harrison has always had his sight on someone else he thought could never become more. This novel verges on taboo in that the romantic interest is his step-brother, but Denning makes it clear as soon as possible in the text that Harrison and Jack meet in their late teens/early twenties and only exhibited signs of awkward brotherhood when pushed by their overbearing parents. However, seeing Rowan throw caution to the wind prompts Harrison to do the same, and the next morning, he knows he’s found his future.

Unfortunately, Jack doesn’t have as much faith and runs immediately. Since the characters already share a background instead of the impulsiveness that bound Rowan and Sid, his actions are less romantic here when a rational discussion would have better served. But Jack and Harrison have been idiots in love for too many years, and everyone in this book has about as much anxiety as those in the first. Luckily, they get their acts together without too much drama, and at least everyone is sober in this particular impulsive wedding.

I’m not sure how well this book stands alone, but I’m glad that I read book 1 anyway. The ripple effect of Rowan and Sid’s single spontaneous act shows how no characters exist in isolation, and as a bonus, we also learn a bit more about the prenup mystery that I felt wasn’t quite solved previously. Overall, this duo shares the lovely theme of staying true to yourself in the face of previous obstacles. And though this particular book was incredibly low angst, Harrison and Jack did experience and prevail over dark moments, and they more than deserve their happily ever after together.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced review version of this ebook from the author.
Profile Image for Guardian.angel54 .
974 reviews39 followers
June 10, 2022
I really loved the first book, Rearranged, and I was so excited for this one. I wanted Harrison to get his book and HEA and I wasn't disappointed. This book has all the feel-good feelings of the first one, but is actually a bit more steamy. Harrison and Jack are positively combustible and their sexual chemistry is off the charts. Additionally, all the other little ways that they compliment each other make this a great romantic read. Having grown up around each other, Harrison and Jack "know" each other. They "see" the things in one another that no one else sees and because of these their spontaneity in getting married works on a truly deep level. Their love is absolute and this shows in how they navigate the fallout from their family. I loved seeing Rowen and Sid again, and was deeply happy that Rowen stood by his friend so staunchly. I've seen some reviews that said this wasn't as good as the first book, but I heartedly disagree. It is written in a different tone and examines different aspects of relationships and, on that merit, it should be judged on its own terms. There are underlying subjects about depression and insecurity but they are handled extremely sensitively and honestly. That Harrison and Jack can "read" each other so well and instinctively know what to say and do, is really beautiful and I thoroughly loved seeing them find their HEA. At some point in everyone's life they've had to say "fudge it" to what everyone else thought and reach for happiness despite the struggles. I really felt that keenly with this story and I think it's a wonderful message. E.M. Denning has always been one of my favorite authors and as long as she continues to write wonderful stories like this, will continue to be. Really enjoyed this book!
Profile Image for Sarah C.
367 reviews2 followers
June 9, 2022
With the way I loved the first book of this series, I was really looking forward to seeing Harrison's story. Plus I mean the whole falling in love with your step-brother thing was very intriguing. Unfortunately, it seemed to fall a bit flat.

I liked both the characters of Harrison and Jack. I liked the relationship. I just didn't CARE about the characters or their relationship. Everything fell too perfectly into place between them. The fact that they went from denying themselves what they wanted to diving head first into it with very little conversation bothered me, I think. Like some of their decisions should've been made with actual discussion, not just a whim while they basked in the after glow of great sex.

But that's not to say that any of it was bad. It wasn't. This book was very well written and I know that my issue with that is entirely a personal one.

That said, there were a lot of things about the book and the characters that I did enjoy a lot - which is why it only lost one star for those things that I didn't care for as much. I loved the further information on why Rowan and Harrison were arranged to be married in the first place. I loved the absolute acceptance of every part of each other between Jack and Harrison. I loved the way Harrison's depression and mental illness were discussed in the narrative and the way that he acknowledged that while things felt great NOW they would not always feel that way due to his mental illness.

All in all, I would recommend this book. I think I just personally went in with too high of expectations given my love of the first in this series. Won't stop me from awaiting the third book though...
Profile Image for Geoff.
1,002 reviews31 followers
June 21, 2022
My Recommendation: This was a so-so read for me. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't good. The characters were believable, but not as well done as Sid and Rowan in the first book. Some moments were just adorably sweet, but there weren't enough of them to really lean into with the novel. I'm not sure I'll read the next book if there is one, there were two characters it could be (Jack's best friend or Rowan's brother), but if it comes out and I don't have a long queue I wouldn't turn it down.

My Response: When this landed in my inbox, it was a case do I really want to continue the series, is it really going to be the end of the world if I just let it go?* I didn't feel super strong in either direction after reading  Rearranged .

I sort of wanted more information about what went down between Rowan, the first book's protagonist, and Harrison, this book's, parents because it wasn't given due justice in the first book and it received even less play in this one unless you count Harrison being fired and Rowan quitting after the main drama of this book.

Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.

*I received a copy of Rediscovered via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.
Profile Image for Maijie.
232 reviews10 followers
June 8, 2022
Rediscovered is the second book in the Do-Over series. It can stand alone however it does contain spoilers for Rearranged so it would be best to read that first before this one.

This book is a fun, light, sexy and feel-good read. The first book did a nice job of introducing Harrison and it really got me curious about his character. The story did a wonderful job in fleshing out the main leads - Harrison and Jack, as well as the development of their relationship as they deal with their own set of problems. Their interaction are sweet and soft and they're quite protective of each other. The writer did a good job of showing their personal struggles and how they've grown from it.

Usually, this would be a shoe-horn win of a read but overall the story didn't work for me. I found myself not connecting with the characters and just found their struggles lacking emotional impact. There were moments that felt a bit slow and totally unnecessary and removing them would've made things flow a bit better. Jack and Harry have chemistry don't get me wrong, but nothing about it stand out for me. Also, the opening parts drop the reader in a point which is adjacent to the start of Rearranged. It gives context to what happened in the first book, but it did take me out a bit when I started reading.

Overall, Rediscovered is not a bad book it's just not my cup of tea. I'd still recommend it to people looking for a nice, sexy, fun, romantic summer read.

This book is book is 3 stars out of 5 stars for me.

I received an ARC of this book via GRR and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Liza.
1,510 reviews19 followers
June 1, 2022
What do you do when your fiance leaves you at the altar and marries someone else? You celebrate the fact that you're finally free to live your own dreams and be with man you've always loved. Harrison was not exactly sad when he saw his fiance, Rowan, stumble out of the Las Vegas chapel. He was finally able to be with the man who he thought was forbidden forever, his stepbrother, Jack. And I loved the two of them together. They were hot and sweet and I am a sucker for forbidden love.
1,901 reviews7 followers
June 6, 2022
Didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as Rearranged

I loved Rowan and Sid in Rearranged. I wanted to read Harrison's story, after Rowan eloped with Sid which effectively put paid to Rowan and Harrison's arranged marriage, to see him be happy and in love. I was expecting some back story to Harrison's and Jack's families, and their years as stepbrothers, but this story jumped straight into Harrison and Jack witnessing the Vegas wedding and continued on from that moment. There was very little information given about their lives before that and what was said didn't give me a proper picture. They wanted each other, spent years pining, Harrison pushing Jack away, but we were just told these snippets. Harrison did have his reasons, sort of, but I needed to see some of their history for myself.
Their story consisted of a bit of angst, a lot of sex, and not much else. I wanted more connection, more interaction with Rowan and Sid as they all dealt with the fallout, more from Harrison's mum and Jack's dad about the marriages, more information and closure about the arranged marriage and prenup that we didn't get in Rearranged and that I thought would be resolved in Rediscovered.
I did like how Harrison and Jack accepted everything about each other, and both genuinely wanted to protect and cherish their man. I was pleased that they got their HEA, but compared to Rearranged, this was just a three star read. I will be reading any other books in the series though, because I want to see other friends and relatives we've already met get their HEA too.
2,196 reviews5 followers
June 11, 2022
Enjoyable, endearing,sexy, feel-good story. Finally able to go after the person you've loved for years. Who doesn't appreciate that kind of ending?
While there were unusual factors involved in their finding solace in the arms of each other, Harrison and Jack made the journey worth while.


**I received this ARC via Gay Romance Reviews for my honest review.**
Profile Image for DD.
457 reviews3 followers
June 27, 2022
EM Denning does it again. They are a master of explosive chemistry. I’m so happy that the happiness domino effect that Rowan and Sid started reached Harrison and Jack. It was a joy to see them finally give into one another and love each other. Harrison’s acceptance of things that people had made Jack feel self conscious about was divine. They were electric together. How they open up and become more of who they really are, funny and comfortable together, it makes it seem they have found some peace in their lives. And I looovvveee a secret wedding. A great, low-angst, comfort read.
Profile Image for Sarah Mitcham.
1,296 reviews8 followers
July 30, 2022
Finally!!

MM, Stepbrothers to Lovers, Contemporary, Romance. Easy to read page-turner with great characters and a fast moving plot, I thoroughly enjoyed reading their story. A stand-alone read with light angst, heat, a love that just won't be denied and parental disapproval as well as a guaranteed HEA.
Profile Image for Amanda D.
684 reviews
June 11, 2022
totally worth the read

Such a sweet love story. Harrison and Jack are stepbrothers with a secret. They’ve been in love with each other for years. Take the trip with the boys as they navigate obstacles standing in their way of being together and their own HEA.
Profile Image for Kendra T.
3,073 reviews39 followers
January 1, 2023
I loved getting to know Harrison more after the last book. I enjoyed watching him and Jack finally get their chance to be together. It wasn’t an easy path for them, but I loved how they didn’t let anything stand in their way anymore. They were so sweet together.
7 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2022
Panty fluffy spicy goodness!

I adore some great fluff and the panty play was just what I needed. Em Denning writes the best fluff!
Profile Image for lori ritter.
152 reviews
June 8, 2022
Love

I love the two books in this series and I love the characters and the storyline. I highly recommend you read this series.
Profile Image for Kandice.
890 reviews
June 10, 2022
I have not read Rearranged, book 1 in this series. I feel like this book doesn't do as well as a standalone since there seems to be some backstory there. The story jumps in with them seeing Rowan and Sid get married and so they finally decide they can be together. They're stepbrothers and some family issues held them back previously.

I'm not sure I'll ever say there's too much sex in a romance. But. The sex scenes were emotional and relevant. But. There was almost nothing else to push the story along. Once they made the decision to be together they dealt with a couple of parental bumps in the road and that was it. It was just them connecting sexually. Again not bad in itself, I just wish there had been something more. More backstory. More relationship development. Something. It's not bad I just wanted more.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy provided by GayRomanceReviews.
Profile Image for Claire Walker.
359 reviews8 followers
June 16, 2022
Rediscovered is an m/m stepbrother romance.
I wouldn’t say it’s typical of the normal stepbrother romances I normally read. This one seemed a little sweeter and a lot of dancing around.
I enjoyed it alright and has some steam and cuteness!!
I would recommend if you like something with a little more sweetness.
Profile Image for Mary Dunlap.
1,226 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2022
I liked it

Its a cute story and its all about love...And people who can't see it.. Kinda drama free..Which was nice..Lots of Smexy times too....HEA is the best..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.