Monday, December 15, 2014

The Boyfriend Mandate (The Boyfriend Chronicles #2) [Tyler & Memphis] by River Jaymes

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I remember when I started reading the previous one, I didn't like Tyler, well, no wonder! He dumps Alec "without a second thought". Yet as the story continue and we learn more about Tyler his reasons turn out to be different from what you'd expect and from that point I REALLY wanted to hear his story and see how he find his HEA. 

Nearing the ending of the previous one, Alec Ty and Noah talk about a fund raiser for Alec and Ty's clinic, I can't remember WHY Memphis who is a famous stuntman got elected as the best possibility for the commercial they have in mind (Noah had something to do with it FOR SURE). Tyler sounds very reluctant to go and speak with him though we don't really know why.. 

As this book begins, Memphis has already agreed on appearing in the commercial so the reason Tyler has for visiting him is totally different. When they meet for the first time after 10 years, Tyler doesn't know what to expect, neither from Memphis nor from himself. 10 years ago Memphis packed his staff and left without a word, changing his mobile phone and making himself unreachable for Tyler without him even knowing why, what brought this, is it something that he did? or didn't do? and finding out later on that Memphis got married to a WOMAN also didn't make things easier on him (he DID get recently divorced though..). Memphis was his whole world back then, helped him deal with a lot of shit when no one else was around and him leaving him devastated him. 

First thing Memphis does though, is hug Tyler with warmth. Though he had his reasons for leaving he missed Tyler and with the fund raiser he hoped he would have a chance to maybe get his friend back, even if it's not possible to re-kindle what they had back in college. Memphis is determined to make Tyler forgive him, he wants to confess the truth to him and finally somehow make it right. Though he doesn't regret his reasoning he does regret missing Tyler all those years and now is the right time to put everything where it SHOULD be. 

Tyler and Memphis together or rather side by side is sex waiting to happen but while Memphis is ALL FOR IT, Tyler is more reserved about it. He made enough mistakes in former relationships to be wary of jumping in bed with his ex. He actually made a promise to himself to NEVER do that again even if Memphis is driving the "Ice Man" (Tyler) bat shit crazy with his sexy smile, too sexy body and endless energy. 

It takes time before the truths begins to unravel. I guess some truths were quite easy to guess, but others not so much. Every secret, every reason, everything that happened in their relationship made Tyler into who he is today and all of it made Memphis live with regret in his heart.

Really enjoyed getting to know both Memphis and Tyler in the present as well as in the glimpses into the past that implies how much Tyler changed BECAUSE of what happened between the two of them 10 years ago. Memphis changed as well in a way, though some things remained - his constant movement and activity, but him becoming a stuntman has everything to do with saying "fuck you" to destiny and living life and mostly danger to it's fullest after surviving cancer. 

Highly Recommended as the first one is! I do think it's better you read the first one before this one as you might get confused with the characters that were introduced in the previous one (Alec, Dylan and Noah). Well, maybe confused is a harsh word as they don't appear so much but I do think that knowing who they are makes it easier. 

I feel kinda sad finishing this review as I KNOW it would take time before the next is published and I don't have anything else by River to read.. so even though I'm excited about the next books I have on my list, I feel reluctant to move on...



Additional Details: Kindle Ebook, 284 pages, 13-15 December 2014 / On GoodReads
 
 
ABOUT THIS SERIES 
 
The Boyfriend Chronicles is a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED MM Romance series by River Jaymes.
After reading the first in the series and then reading her debut short novella (Brad's Bachelor Party) I became hooked to River and she is now on my pre-order-immediate-read-as-soon-as-published (short) list.

As it seems now the series would contain 3 books. We meet most of the important MC in the first one. As the first book begins we handle Alec and Tyler's separation and the building of Alec's relationship with Dylan. On the second novel Tyler finds his HEA with his mythological ex - Memphis and the last one will be of Noah (and Ky). Noah being a long time friend of Dylan but also a friend of Alec and Tyler as well. We also got a "first impression" of both Memphis and Ky. Memphis being mentioned in the ending of the first novel as helping out on a project that will take place in the second book and Ky is also mentioned in the ending of the second book as he meets the guys with a very sweet and funny encounter with Noah.


I ADORED the first novel and the second was also just beautiful in every aspect so I can't wait for the third to be published. I loved all characters in the series, they all feel very real and very special in their own way. Alec and Tyler are both doctors and they own a clinic that helps homeless people / people that have no means to pay for medical treatment. Dylan and Noah, though not in the medical field, are both invested in helping out on the cause specifically on HIV as they dealt with it in their past. On the second book there is also a project for cancer patients. I really enjoyed reading these two and the special attention they brought to subject that are usually left out of romance books, maybe because on other novels the characters would be too much of a "do-gooders" yet here it made the characters who they are and reflected their lives and upbringing. 


HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 


Books:

1. The Backup Boyfriend [Alec & Dylan] (Published 28 November 2013) ★★★★★
2. The Boyfriend Mandate [Tyler & Memphis] (Published 13 October 2014) ★★★★★
3. The Boyfriend Makeover [Noah & Ky] (Published 22 November 2016) ★★★ 
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment