Philip William Stover

Books: Romance | Queer

Love Beyond Boundaries: There Galapagos My Heart (2020)

Seasons of New Hope: The Hideaway Inn (2020)

Love Beyond Boundaries

There Galapagos My Heart (2020)

Mike Davis is perfectly content being an account manager. Of course he'd rather be an artist, but after his mother got sick he needed a job and it's not a bad thing to be comfortable.

I can never go back to not knowing where money for the next meal was coming from. Still there must be a medium place where all of my decisions aren't based on fear.

First, I'd like to note I read this all in one sitting.

Second, I have issues with Benton.

I get that he wanted Mike to have passion in his life. I get that he thought Mike could do better.

But I really hate that Benton dumped Mike over preferring security over passion.

He believed good things were always waiting to happen. I believe that you brace yourself for the worst at all times and wait in the cellar until the tornado passes while eating expired cans of fruit cocktail.

It wasn't that Mike had stupid reasons for staying at his job. A secure job and benefits aren't everything, but they also aren't something to scoff at either.

It's one thing to try to convince someone they could do better.

It's something else entirely to make someone feel they aren't good enough because of what they do.

And this is another case of my opinion changing as I wrote a review and thought more about the story. Because the more I think about it, the less happy I am for how Benton seemingly couldn't accept Mike.

Publisher: Iron Bridge Creative

Rating: 6/10

Seasons of New Hope

The Hideaway Inn (2020)

Vince Amato heading to New Hope for an investment. To make money after everything in New York went down in flames. He may be built and fit and wear bespoke suits, but inside he seems to still be Skinny Vinny, the bullied boy who was once in love with his neighbor, Tack.

it's clear I made a mistake coming back. This place didn't protect me then and I don't need to protect it now. Let FunTyme Inc. turn the whole village into a parking lot for all I care. I can almost smell the hot asphalt.

Wow.

I really didn't care for Vince.

At first I felt bad for him, because he had been bullied at school. But from what the story described it didn't match the level of hostility he felt towards the town.

And he'd made his name and his fortune in New York. So why would he even care?

Except, of course, that he screwed that up by literally screwing a client.

Meanwhile, Tack–the guy he'd crushed on in high school, has clearly changed–and for the better–and Vince is a dick to him for most of the book.

And then when the Big Misunderstanding comes, Tack feels like he has to apologize to Vince? Seriously?

I mean, the story opens with him being rude to a freaking bus driver for dog's sake. It's hard to have a lot of compassion for someone that stoops that low.

That said, there were some positives in the book. Mostly Tack and his kid, Jules. The bits with Vince were just a little too toxic to be really enjoyable.

Also, the cover really does not match the tone of the book. It's not a bad cover, but Vince is fairly hostile and negative for so much of the story it feels kind of the opposite of the cover.

Publisher: Carina Adores

Rating: 6/10