MishyJo
After finishing my lit degree, I completely stopped reading. I had lost the ability to read for pleasure. But in early 2013 I discovered reading could be social. And in the autumn of 2013 I discovered MM romances and that reading could be downright HOT. I haven't stopped reading since!
I live on Goodreads but I promise to figure out Booklikes eventually.
Ethan
4.5 to thine own self be true stars ETA: see comments for a list of side characters you may find helpful if you are reading this as a stand alone
In addition to being an incredibly steamy sensual love story between two super hot alpha males (who happen to be mechanics *swoons*), this book touches on very serious issues of hate crimes, bullying, suicide, coming out, and self-acceptance. It did so through a beautifully crafted love story that was never heavy, just insightful and inspiring.
First I must pay homage to Nicole Edwards who less than a year ago changed my reading habits forever. It was in her super hot MMF menage story [b:Temptation|16093312|Temptation (Club Destiny, #2)|Nicole Edwards|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359897546s/16093312.jpg|21899455] that I read my first MM sex scene ever. My whole world tilted on its axis. Soon thereafter I found GR, discovered the incredible genre of MM romance, and made dozens of wonderful GR friends with similar interests. So after reading about Luke/Cole/Sierra in [b:Temptation|16093312|Temptation (Club Destiny, #2)|Nicole Edwards|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359897546s/16093312.jpg|21899455] and Gage/Travis/Kylie in [b:Travis|17305041|Travis (Alluring Indulgence, #3)|Nicole Edwards|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1373053755s/17305041.jpg|23963319], I was psyched to hear that Ms. Edwards had written her first full MM romance.
The love story between Beau and Ethan sizzles. This book included some of the most sensual and intense sex scenes I have read in a long time. There is a LOT of sex. But it doesn't feel gratuitous. Rather it is an artful expression of the need that these two men have not only for each other but for a meaningful connection to another human being. It is this connection that finally allows then to take down the walls that they have built to protect themselves from the hate that Ethan has withstood in his life and the lack of parental love that Beau has experienced since he was a child.
As an aside, this is book 4 in a series is about 7 cowboy brothers who own a demolition company but decide to build a huge BDSM/sex club and resort on the outskirts of their little town (the sex club really doesn't come into play in this story, however). Each brother gets his own book and there are a few tie ins to the author's Club Destiny series (but I think the two series totally stand alone). Up to this point, Ethan was the brother who we really knew the least about. He was the quite, distant one. His sexuality was alluded in in the prior books but we didn't really meet him until the Christmas novella [b:Holidays with the Walker Brothers|18695377|Holidays with the Walker Brothers (Alluring Indulgence, #3.5)|Nicole Edwards|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1382372786s/18695377.jpg|26544976] that immediate preceded this installment. As noted in the blurb, this book could be read as a stand alone. The primary difficulty I think would be keeping track of 7 brothers, their wives and husband, parents, cousins, and friends who were slowly introduced in the prior 3.5 books and who show up hear at various times to support Ethan in his journey towards self-acceptance.
