Justin Evanson's life has changed drastically. His dad is ill, and he just found out he has two half-siblings and that he has been lied to for most of his life. He is now in a new town with responsibilities and issues with new family dynamics. He's feeling overwhelmed, lost, lonely, and displaced. He's caring, protective, but also angry, confused and guilty. He is gay, out, and fully supported by his family in that regard. But he is really in need of a fun distraction.

Drew Sinclair is exploring different sides of himself. He has his own family issues and feels like he is not significant in his own family and not meeting their expectations. He owns a gym and has dated women.  He is also a bit lost, curious, and trying out new things to see how they fit into  his life. 

They share a hot moment, but then realize their families share a connection. But awkwardness turns into a friendship and understanding...and some flirty situations. They both feel like outsiders in their own families. They find that they help each other forget their troubles. They can laugh together and provide a distraction to their shifting lives. But by exposing their secret connection, it could cause even more changes in the dynamics between their families.

Drew is test driving how it feels to be with a man and learning more about his needs in the process. And Justin is a willing teacher. They both need a friend, an outlet, and an anchor. But they also desire each other and have hot chemistry.  Justin is the more experienced, dirty-talker.  Drew is the eager student who has a bossy mouth of his own. I liked that they had some power exchanges and could give each other what the other needed at the time. They did not both have to be the strong, assertive one and were able to give and take based on their emotional needs. But I will admit that early in the book sometimes I got the guys mixed up because of this.

Drew makes things easier for Justin as he deals with harsh realities, sadness, anger, and fears. He makes him laugh, and helps take away the loneliness. He thinks about Justin's feelings and needs. For Drew this is new experience of being with a man and a relationship. But he is also becoming more sure of himself and figuring out what changes he needs to make in his own life.  And for Justin it is not only testing a relationship with Drew, but also navigating a new path with his family. It's about living in the moment, forgiveness, opening up, and letting love in. It focuses not only on the connection between Drew and Justin, but also family dynamics and building stronger relationships with them. And also being part of a supportive group of friends. But this is only supposed to be a temporary place for Justin before he returns to his real home, so there are no promises of a future and the timeline is unpredictable.

"You're the only thing here that feels like mine."

I loved getting more about Justin's brother, Landon, and his sister, Shanen, and their significant others, Rod and Jacob (Shifting Gears) and Nick and Bryce (Crossroads). They have become a group that has weathered challenges, but also provide support, companionship and laughter.

These guys really touched my heart. Justin had so many conflicting emotions and was in the process of breaking. Drew was initially skittish, but really became a much needed support and advocate for Justin.  Drew had his own problems to deal with as well. But they truly gave what they could to each other. I felt there was a lot of character growth in the book and that the issues were handled realistically and respectfully. I enjoyed their dual points of view and understanding each of the guy's feelings and fears. I had a few problems getting my bearings in the beginning of the story with figuring out more about the guys and remembering the complex family situation. But I ended up adoring both of their personalities and loved their flirty, funny, sexy banter and their strong connection. They had and intense and raw need for each other both physically and emotionally that was so evident. 

This book was full of so many feels. I laughed, swooned, hurt, fanned myself, and got a bit teary-eyed. It was an emotional, heartfelt story with a beautiful, passionate MM romance and just enough humor to break up the tension. But it was about more than just finding love, but also about finding a true home and family. I stayed up past my bedtime finishing it, but I did not want to put it down once I got immersed into their story. This is a wonderful addition to the Crossroads series and I cannot wait for more.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Crossroads
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Kim's 4.5+ star review and Jay's 4.5-star review

After divorcing the woman he’d been with since he was seventeen, Nick Fuller is starting over. He owns the restaurant of his dreams and he’s determined to meet new people, find new passions, and experience life to its fullest. Easier said than done—that is until he meets his new neighbor, Bryce Tanner… 

Neither man has ever wanted another guy, but there’s a connection between them from the start—a spark they can’t deny. They find themselves navigating an unfamiliar new world and dealing with unforeseen obstacles. Physical desire isn’t enough, and now Nick and Bryce are at a crossroads. They have to decide which way to go: the easy path they’ve always followed, or the one that's determined to trip them up at every turn.

Shifting Gears

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Kim's 4.5-star review and Jay's 4-star review