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Release Date November 2, 2017

Losing his adoring husband shattered Tristan Rogers world. For the past few years, he’s been going through the motions, running their dog grooming business while hiding the loneliness he feels down to his bones. When he witnesses an ugly breakup between a pretentious customer and his boyfriend, Tristan can’t help but intervene. Something about the unassuming younger man calls to him, and he can’t help wondering if he’s experienced some heartache of his own.

Life took a tragic turn for Jonas “West” Hollis as a teen, and he’s felt indebted to his overbearing lover ever since. Tristan’s kindness draws him from the start, but with his dreams finally in reach, West can’t risk getting close to someone else. Not now that he can live his life and stand on his own merit.

From innocent texts to companionable rides on Tristan’s boat, what starts as an unexpected friendship between the men sparks into undeniable attraction. Neither are ready for anything deeper than a couple of passionate nights wrapped in each other’s arms but their connection becomes too intense for either to ignore. If Tristan and West want to heal their broken hearts, they’ll need a considerable amount of trust and courage—not only in themselves but also each other.

We got to know Tristan a bit in REGRET as he is Brin's boss at Doggie Styles Grooming. Tristan has been a widower 3 years and has been living life in a rut. He runs his business, has his friends at work, and is living a pretty lonely existence. He is not looking for anyone to replace his beloved husband, and is still grieving his loss.

West and his boyfriend would bring their dogs to Tristan's shop. He was intrigued by their relationship as West's boyfriend was older, controlling, and rude, while West seemed to be quiet and in the background. West stayed longer in the relationship than he should have, but felt indebted. His past has left him lost and alone, but one day he decides he needs to get away and make his own way in life. And Tristan gives him assistance when he needed it. 

Slowly they begin communication with calls, texts, and eventually a fragile friendship. Both have up walls and are not looking to get emotionally attached. But both could use a friend and seem to fill a void and ease the loneliness. As trust builds and they become more of a lifeline to hold onto, attraction also keeps building.

But can these two hurt and lost men find a connection that has the potential to stick and grow?

These guys were so sweet, vulnerable, and broken. Tristan was such a good, mature, stable guy, but was also passionate, patient, and kind. He needed a push to get back to living and feeling. And West was younger and unsettled, but he had such a strong need to be cared for and feel safe while also wanting to be his own man. They both challenged the other. They both had so much love to give, but were so scared of getting hurt or getting into a situation they could not handle. Companionship comfort, friendship, respect, a few kisses, some tenderness and touches....I enjoyed their tentative and gradual transition together and their personal growth.

This is an emotional, slow burn, May-December, friends-to-lovers, M/M love story of two people trying to move on from tragedy and heartbreak and find hope. I was glad to get both of their points of view since they were both guarded and afraid of sharing at times. I really loved them together. They were so different, but at the same time had commonalities and could understand the other.

This brings back Brin and Nick, Elijah, Stewart, Kam, Brooke, and the mysterious Mr. V from Regret, but it can be read as a stand-alone.  I hope we see a books for Elijah and Kam in the future. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
“Take yourself out so I can see you,” West suggested with a devilish gleam, and I did a double-take, marveling at the contradiction. Gone was the moody, unsure kid, only to be replaced by the liberated, playful man filled with hope and mischievousness.
“What—right now?” I looked along the shoreline, and outside of a couple of faraway boats, we were virtually alone. Still, I shook my head. “I can’t—”
“Sure you can,” he replied with a smirk. “You look so impressive manning this boat. Distinguished, even. It would be hot to see you holding your cock while your other hand grips the wheel.”
“Goddamn, West,” I ground out as our eyes met briefly. “Haven’t you come into your own… What happened to my quiet and shy companion?”
He laughed and then shrugged. “Guess he finally went after what he needed. And who he wanted.”
When he curved his eyebrow in challenge, I shivered. My gaze panning the shoreline, I already knew I planned on doing precisely what he asked. Fuck, he knew exactly how to light me up and appeal to my whims—all of which seemed to include him in one fashion or another.
I jerked the throttle and reduced to a slower speed before my hand drifted to my shorts. I tugged them just far enough down that the head of my cock was exposed above the waistband as I gripped my shaft.
“Nice,” he murmured in appreciation as he gazed fixedly at my dick. He stood, sidled next to me, and dragged his fingers along my shoulder blades, making the hairs on my neck stand up. Thankfully there was a glass partition that extended along the sides of the steering wheel, so unless you had a direct view, you wouldn’t realize that I held my cock in my fist.
West’s fingers slid beneath the waistband and into my crease.
“So hot,” he whispered in my ear.

Christina Lee 

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Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip balm, coffee, and kissing. Because everything is better with kissing. 

She writes MM Contemporary as well as Adult and New Adult Romance. She believes in happily-ever-afters for all, so reading and writing romance for everybody under the rainbow helps quench her soul. 
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