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Sheltered Hearts #1
Second Chances
Fear took him away, but longing brought him back… Six years ago, Nikolas Steele’s heart was broken when his best friend—the man who he thought was his forever—walked out on him without an explanation. Now, Ky Kendall is back in town, just in time for the holidays. When he shows up at Nikolas’s Santa Shop with a little girl who looks like him, Nik has questions. In a time of need, Ky steps up to play the part of Santa’s Helper to keep the spirit of Christmas alive, but neither of them expect those old sparks to fly. Despite their renewed passion, Ky’s still running scared and Nikolas knows that at any moment, their fragile relationship could be shattered once more. And this time, he isn’t sure if he’s strong enough to survive it. Second Chances is a 28,000 word MM contemporary romance novella with a guaranteed HEA, and no cliffhangers or cheating. Each book in the Sheltered Hearts series can be read as a stand alone.
102 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2017
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97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
probably-not-but-freebie
November 19, 2018Freebie at the zon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Second-Chanc...
December 27, 2017
Man who (I think) owns a toy store runs into an old boyfriend who disappeared years ago. It's set at Christmastime. Some of the plot points were hazy or unbelievable.
Typos: Incorrect punctuation around closing quotes, some sentences poorly constructed, it's confused for its.
Typos: Incorrect punctuation around closing quotes, some sentences poorly constructed, it's confused for its.
April 26, 2019
This story was believeable except for one point (and it's a doozy, imo): Ky's father (a fire-and-brimstone preacher) knew his son was gay from a younger age but insisted he be the perfect son and marry, etc, etc. (I get that.) Toward the end of the story, Ky is in a car crash, "sees the light" and confesses his love for men, namely for his childhood friend Nik. I understand ALL this but never the less, "Ky, turn your back on BOTH parents, deny them visitation with their grandchild and LIVE YOUR LIFE! STOP BEING A WEINIE!!" Yes, this storyline did wind me up: problem??
dnf
August 23, 2019Dnf @ 33%. Ky is an asshole. End of the story
December 25, 2018
This one was a freebie, and I have some strong feelings about it. Ahem. I liked Nik, but Ky was kind of a tool and did not grovel enough. No scratch that, Ky is a fucking unlikable asshole and Nik did not deserve his shit.
Ky's unforgivable sins are thus:
- Disappears on his boyfriend/childhood friend Nik for six years
- Reappears with out warning at Nik's FUCKING JOB.
- Reappears with with his 5 year old daughter so he can rub in Nik's face what an amazing time he's having in hetero-normative land.
- Agrees to have coffee with Nik and when Nik commits the high crime of asking what he did to make Ky leave, Ky leaves. Like a douche bag.
- Does not back the fuck off when he learns Nik's dad is dealing with cancer, thus leaving Nik with the stress of running his father's business, comforting his mother and (oh yeah) being fucking scared for his dad!
- Initiates sex with Nik knowing Nik is dealing with some heavy shit and then after sex leaves Nik AGAIN. D<
All the while we as readers get to bounce back between both Nik and Ky's POVs and we are being asked on faith (ha) to buy that Ky's faith is a deep and binding thing. That he's so damaged by being a pastor's son that motivates his actions and gives him justification to hurt people in his life. That we should feel bad for Ky and his repressed-closeted-self-loathing ass. It's just not there on the page. The author tells us, but does not show. Then we have his relationship with his ex-wife and omg I can't even with this motherfucker.
OMG get over yourself! This is down right misogynistic. This woman spent six years in a loveless marriage with you, gave you a daughter wanted more kids and you where a fucking asshole to her. She is not the villain, you are. You wasted her time, you trapped her in a marriage where she was miserable and brought a child into a broken home of your own making. Poor fucking Ky, I weep for you.
Let's compare to... oh let's say Jake Riordan from Adrien English. Jake's dating Kate while he beats and fucks subs at his club then he's starts fucking Adrien. Adrien knows Jake's an abusive asshole. Adrien understands that he signed up for Jake's bullshit so when Jake informs him that he's got Kate pregnant and that he's going to marry her, as much as it hurt Adrien cut him loose managing to keep his dignity.
We know Jake is loathsome, we know Adrien loves him anyways cause sometimes love hurts. We accept Jake later because when he figures his shit out, he comes back and meets Adrien on Adrien's terms and FUCKING GROVELS. Jake accepts what ever scraps Adrien throws him, he doesn't waffle on being out and wanting to earn a second chance with Adrien. He's out and dealing with the consequences of his actions, making amends to the people he hurt. This includes Kate, cause whoa, he was having unprotected sex with both her and Adrien and that's a betrayal of trust on a whole other level of douchery.
In retrospect we know Jake was dealing with some fucked up shit, but while he's hurting Adrien actively we as readers where never asked to feel bad for Jake.
In fact, we as readers are quite free to hate him because we go nowhere near his POV and are safely with Adrien the whole time.
And that right there is where I think this story suffered. Ky is unlikable and unsympathetic, time in his POV did not convince me he had no other choice but to hurt the people he did, I did not buy his man pain for a fucking instant. Instead of wasting time in his POV I would have loved more time in Nik's as he deals with his sick father, keeping his father's business alive, his hurt and hope Ky will pull his head out of his ass because frankly his motivations and angst where so much more believable.
In short, I love asshole love interests. I hate being asked to feel bad for asshole love interests while they are actively being assholes. Ask me to feel bad after they figure their shit out, grovel, and stop being fucking assholes. Not before.
Ky doesn't even have to fucking grovel by the way... he just has to crash his car and *poof* all the conflict disappears! No, that's not ok. I will not accept that. I am annoyed.
Ky's unforgivable sins are thus:
- Disappears on his boyfriend/childhood friend Nik for six years
- Reappears with out warning at Nik's FUCKING JOB.
- Reappears with with his 5 year old daughter so he can rub in Nik's face what an amazing time he's having in hetero-normative land.
- Agrees to have coffee with Nik and when Nik commits the high crime of asking what he did to make Ky leave, Ky leaves. Like a douche bag.
- Does not back the fuck off when he learns Nik's dad is dealing with cancer, thus leaving Nik with the stress of running his father's business, comforting his mother and (oh yeah) being fucking scared for his dad!
- Initiates sex with Nik knowing Nik is dealing with some heavy shit and then after sex leaves Nik AGAIN. D<
All the while we as readers get to bounce back between both Nik and Ky's POVs and we are being asked on faith (ha) to buy that Ky's faith is a deep and binding thing. That he's so damaged by being a pastor's son that motivates his actions and gives him justification to hurt people in his life. That we should feel bad for Ky and his repressed-closeted-self-loathing ass. It's just not there on the page. The author tells us, but does not show. Then we have his relationship with his ex-wife and omg I can't even with this motherfucker.
Maybe he’d treated her wrong. Maybe he shouldn’t have lied to her—and himself—about his own broken sexuality. Would she have cared? Would she have sneered and told him it was just another excuse?
Except, his sexuality wasn't broken.
OMG get over yourself! This is down right misogynistic. This woman spent six years in a loveless marriage with you, gave you a daughter wanted more kids and you where a fucking asshole to her. She is not the villain, you are. You wasted her time, you trapped her in a marriage where she was miserable and brought a child into a broken home of your own making. Poor fucking Ky, I weep for you.
Let's compare to... oh let's say Jake Riordan from Adrien English. Jake's dating Kate while he beats and fucks subs at his club then he's starts fucking Adrien. Adrien knows Jake's an abusive asshole. Adrien understands that he signed up for Jake's bullshit so when Jake informs him that he's got Kate pregnant and that he's going to marry her, as much as it hurt Adrien cut him loose managing to keep his dignity.
We know Jake is loathsome, we know Adrien loves him anyways cause sometimes love hurts. We accept Jake later because when he figures his shit out, he comes back and meets Adrien on Adrien's terms and FUCKING GROVELS. Jake accepts what ever scraps Adrien throws him, he doesn't waffle on being out and wanting to earn a second chance with Adrien. He's out and dealing with the consequences of his actions, making amends to the people he hurt. This includes Kate, cause whoa, he was having unprotected sex with both her and Adrien and that's a betrayal of trust on a whole other level of douchery.
In retrospect we know Jake was dealing with some fucked up shit, but while he's hurting Adrien actively we as readers where never asked to feel bad for Jake.
In fact, we as readers are quite free to hate him because we go nowhere near his POV and are safely with Adrien the whole time.
And that right there is where I think this story suffered. Ky is unlikable and unsympathetic, time in his POV did not convince me he had no other choice but to hurt the people he did, I did not buy his man pain for a fucking instant. Instead of wasting time in his POV I would have loved more time in Nik's as he deals with his sick father, keeping his father's business alive, his hurt and hope Ky will pull his head out of his ass because frankly his motivations and angst where so much more believable.
In short, I love asshole love interests. I hate being asked to feel bad for asshole love interests while they are actively being assholes. Ask me to feel bad after they figure their shit out, grovel, and stop being fucking assholes. Not before.
Ky doesn't even have to fucking grovel by the way... he just has to crash his car and *poof* all the conflict disappears! No, that's not ok. I will not accept that. I am annoyed.
December 31, 2017
How can love be wrong
A sweet Christmas reunion book where two former lovers meet up and try again to have something more. Nik is out and proud, but his first (and only) love Ky his his sexuality for fear of disapproval from his religious father. Now with a shattered marriage and further family shame, Ky has run back to Nik's town and into his life.
Nik is a very kind guy. He forgives Ky running six years ago, and further he is willing to understand. It is a little hard to imagine being able to open your heart like that again and again, but it is part of what makes Nik.
Ky is held back in life by his religion. Everything growing up taught him that being gay is a sin, so no matter how much he wants to be open and loving he continues to feel that what has with Nik is wrong. It is religion that keeps him apart, and in the end religion that lets him open up. There are major religious overtones to the end of the book and what happens with Ky; if that will upset you avoid this book. I understood what the author was doing and enjoyed it, besides the ending perhaps being a little too pat.
A sweet Christmas reunion book where two former lovers meet up and try again to have something more. Nik is out and proud, but his first (and only) love Ky his his sexuality for fear of disapproval from his religious father. Now with a shattered marriage and further family shame, Ky has run back to Nik's town and into his life.
Nik is a very kind guy. He forgives Ky running six years ago, and further he is willing to understand. It is a little hard to imagine being able to open your heart like that again and again, but it is part of what makes Nik.
Ky is held back in life by his religion. Everything growing up taught him that being gay is a sin, so no matter how much he wants to be open and loving he continues to feel that what has with Nik is wrong. It is religion that keeps him apart, and in the end religion that lets him open up. There are major religious overtones to the end of the book and what happens with Ky; if that will upset you avoid this book. I understood what the author was doing and enjoyed it, besides the ending perhaps being a little too pat.
October 24, 2021
I suppose there was nothing wrong with this other than personal preferences. I'm just not into the whole God thing, be it the glories of God's grace or the vagaries and damages godly people do in God's name. So, the whole plot of this novella—at least the fractious aspect of it—did nothing for me. And outside of that, the rest of the plot is in the blurb. So, there wasn't a lot left.
Well, I do actually think I need to complain about the, frankly, miraculous change of heart Ky's fire-and-brimstone parents had and how rushed the happily ever after was, at the end. But It's a Christmas novella, I don't really expect much else.
Having said all of that, Nikolas was a paragon of forgiveness and I appreciated that about him. And Ky's internal struggles were well represented. I liked both characters. So, I won't say this wasn't a good read. Just not for me, I think.
Well, I do actually think I need to complain about the, frankly, miraculous change of heart Ky's fire-and-brimstone parents had and how rushed the happily ever after was, at the end. But It's a Christmas novella, I don't really expect much else.
Having said all of that, Nikolas was a paragon of forgiveness and I appreciated that about him. And Ky's internal struggles were well represented. I liked both characters. So, I won't say this wasn't a good read. Just not for me, I think.
December 25, 2017
Fun Christmassy read
This was a very sweet Christmas themed story. Nik runs a Christmas themed store and plays Santa Claus to all the children in town. Ky used to be Nik's best friend until he suddenly moved away. Several years later Ky moves back to town and resumes his friendship Nik. The story is moderately paced with plenty of angst and a bit of danger.
This was a very sweet Christmas themed story. Nik runs a Christmas themed store and plays Santa Claus to all the children in town. Ky used to be Nik's best friend until he suddenly moved away. Several years later Ky moves back to town and resumes his friendship Nik. The story is moderately paced with plenty of angst and a bit of danger.
January 13, 2018
Please Forgive Me
Santa ends up with a special Christmas gift when his ex boyfriend shows up after a six year absence. Add in religious stigma, an ex wife, a daughter, a blizzard and you've got a sweet HEAa
Santa ends up with a special Christmas gift when his ex boyfriend shows up after a six year absence. Add in religious stigma, an ex wife, a daughter, a blizzard and you've got a sweet HEAa
January 1, 2018
Pretty sappy, but sweet anyway.
April 1, 2019
Loved it!
I love second chance books and this one didn't disappoint. I absolutely loved Ky and Nic and I didn't want their story to end. Loved it!
I love second chance books and this one didn't disappoint. I absolutely loved Ky and Nic and I didn't want their story to end. Loved it!
January 23, 2020
PLEASE READ FIRST MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings (for all people, who wonder, why I say a 3*-book is a good book and should be readed):
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-Away-book like Liberty from Seth King or Save the kids series from EM Leya). it’s like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises (like most of Andrew Grey books)
It’s like an A
3* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It’s like an A-B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (I wouldn't recommend it heartly, but it was ok)
It’s like an C- D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (maybe too many mistakes, not a nice plot, or unlogical story, so a NO-GO)
It’s like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
To my ratings (for all people, who wonder, why I say a 3*-book is a good book and should be readed):
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-Away-book like Liberty from Seth King or Save the kids series from EM Leya). it’s like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises (like most of Andrew Grey books)
It’s like an A
3* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It’s like an A-B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (I wouldn't recommend it heartly, but it was ok)
It’s like an C- D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (maybe too many mistakes, not a nice plot, or unlogical story, so a NO-GO)
It’s like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
July 8, 2019
It was written well enough and I thought the Christmas theme was fun, but you can't coast through a book on a fun season. The characters all had potential to be more... anything. They weren't 2d, but I felt they lacked enough character development. (The erotic moments also threw me off guard, but that's on me, not the book.) My biggest qualm was the religious homophobia "but God says we shouldn't!" type of storyline. The rest of the plot was so cute and would have easily made an adorable romance were it not for such an overused and outdated troupe.
Want to read
November 20, 201811/20/18 Currently FREE via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews