In a way I felt as though there is something a bit redundant about the subplot of Evan and Matt, even though it HAS to be different because years has gone by and Evan is more sure about him being gay and his relationship with Matt. Yet we get (almost) the same Evan we had in the first novel. Stressed out, more into his job than into the family and Matt. Matt taking over the kids and the family duties even though now he has a business to run. So while he is happy with Even being a Captain now, their relationship suffers. Especially when a "friend" from Evan's work is plotting against them. I HATED that and didn't understand how Evan hadn't realized it before it got blown away. Naturally, Evan and Matt's problem were resolved but I felt as though I didn't need another reminder of the same problems occurring again. I love these two! I do! But I would have appreciated something else happening between them. The ending, their HEA was so damn sweet I loved it!
With Jim and Griffin it was different. Maybe because we had less page time with this couple in the past. Jim is hiding the fact he is working to put Tripp Ingersoll in jail, this time from a different angle since he can't prosecute him again for the murder of Carmen Kelly. In the end it just blows in his face in more ways than one. Griffin was very understanding when he found out about it, yet he wasn't about to accept Jim's involvement with Tripp for long.
These two subplots worked together. Matt and Jim working together to find proof of Tripp's murderous behavior in the past. We had Griffin working on a new play, continuing his career yet not forgetting his relationship with Jim and both of them wanting more than they had - marriage, children. There was also Matt and Evan having their own problems with Evan being too much at work and expect Matt to take over. We had glimpses into Evan and Matt's kids as well as visits from Helena and Shane. If that was the bigger picture of the book I think I would have given it 5 stars even if some things were repetitive. I love these two couples and happy for a re-visit - yet it dragged for me because of Daisy, Bennett and Sadie.
Who cares about those three and why does their drama make too many grown ups stay awake for days? I didn't think the drama made any sense really. I got why Daisy broke up with him but his part was off character. Then we had little Sadie which had too much center stage for me. This is a MM Romance novel, not a Drama book centering on family life. Yeah I got the need for Sadie being around - it was for Jim to see how much Griffin wants kids as well as for him to realize he wants it too especially with seeing how important it is for his boyfriend. But didn't we went through this enough in "Blessed"? Well, we didn't get to see Jim get involved there but I don't know, I just thought that Daisy and Bennett's part in the story was annoying. Also, getting them involved in the bigger picture with Jim's hunt for Tripp didn't make any sense as well. I didn't like the couple, not interested in reading about them and their whole part ruined the romance between the two main couples.
I love both couples, I do. I enjoyed seeing their struggle and then their HEA was simply beautiful. With Griffin and Jim more extravagant, with Evan and Matt more private and sweet. It was so perfect! But I think that getting these two couples together in one book should have been enough. There was no need to add more couples and sub plots to the plot. Two couples in one is enough. I also think after reading this one that there was really no need for the previous installment AT ALL. I mean everything got revisited, it was like a sort of a glimpse into the couples in this installment. Yeah we had Jim and Griffin realizing they want to take the relationship one step forward and Griffin realizing he wants kids but that could have been arranged in the beginning of this one..
I'm sad to let this series go. But I do believe that both couples got their sweet HEA. This series felt so human and real and even when angsty I felt the characters dealt with their issues well. No tantrums were made. Yeah we had a little time off that needed to be taken, but I get that, and it's better than just screaming at one another. It felt real and mature.
This is a highly recommended series! I LOVED the first 3 installments and though the 4th + 5th ones weren't really necessary in my opinion, getting more of both couples can't really be a bad thing.
So farewell Matt, Evan, Jim and Griffin. We had a blast together :)
Additional Details: Kindle Ebook, 200 pages, 10-11 May 2015 / On GoodReads
ABOUT THIS SERIES
Faith, Love, & Devotion is a MM Romance series by Tere Michaels.
Most of the series centers around the romance between New York City Vice Detective Evan Cerelli and former Homicide Detective Matt Haight. The second novel in the series centers around another couple - Jim (Homicide Detective James Shea) & Griffin Drake (A screenwriter) - after their novel the series continues with two more books of Evan and Matt (concluding the series after these) including a meetup with Jim & Griffin in the 3rd novel.
This series is absolutely AMAZING. The romance between Evan and Matt was beautiful and sensitive especially because they were both in a very difficult state when they met and also because they were both "straight" and never considered they might be attracted to men. So the romance between them had a "confused feel" to it on both sides, trying to deal with life, label and stereotypes as well as the "simple romance". I loved that even though it was very heart clutching at times and very emotional I didn't feel it was stretched just for the sake of having an argument, it all felt very genuine and real. The struggles feeling very understandable. With Jim and Griffin it was different, and not only because they are both openly gay. They had a different relationship but also a very sweet one, the love building in a very easy going way.
The 5th installment was published as a bundle with the 4th one. Better buy the bundle now since the 5th installment isn't available as a standalone (both together are about a novel's length). These two installments aren't very necessary to the general plot but I guess you mostly need to read them to understand Where Jim and Griffin are in their relationship as well as what's up with Miranda (Evan's oldest daughter).
The 5th and 6th installment are different in the sense we get both couples together. It's a bit crowded yet having them both together is like getting a cookie and a piece of cake together :) The HEA was beautifully made in the 6th installment.
Then we got the very last one. If you wanted a HEA a true one, I believe we've totally got it in the very last installment. It's not the usual book with a coherent story line, it's a collection of stories, of our three couples (though it's mostly Evan and Matt), the kids, growing up, getting older, getting married, having kids. Life. Family. Love. All entwined together.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Books:
Most of the series centers around the romance between New York City Vice Detective Evan Cerelli and former Homicide Detective Matt Haight. The second novel in the series centers around another couple - Jim (Homicide Detective James Shea) & Griffin Drake (A screenwriter) - after their novel the series continues with two more books of Evan and Matt (concluding the series after these) including a meetup with Jim & Griffin in the 3rd novel.
This series is absolutely AMAZING. The romance between Evan and Matt was beautiful and sensitive especially because they were both in a very difficult state when they met and also because they were both "straight" and never considered they might be attracted to men. So the romance between them had a "confused feel" to it on both sides, trying to deal with life, label and stereotypes as well as the "simple romance". I loved that even though it was very heart clutching at times and very emotional I didn't feel it was stretched just for the sake of having an argument, it all felt very genuine and real. The struggles feeling very understandable. With Jim and Griffin it was different, and not only because they are both openly gay. They had a different relationship but also a very sweet one, the love building in a very easy going way.
The 5th installment was published as a bundle with the 4th one. Better buy the bundle now since the 5th installment isn't available as a standalone (both together are about a novel's length). These two installments aren't very necessary to the general plot but I guess you mostly need to read them to understand Where Jim and Griffin are in their relationship as well as what's up with Miranda (Evan's oldest daughter).
The 5th and 6th installment are different in the sense we get both couples together. It's a bit crowded yet having them both together is like getting a cookie and a piece of cake together :) The HEA was beautifully made in the 6th installment.
Then we got the very last one. If you wanted a HEA a true one, I believe we've totally got it in the very last installment. It's not the usual book with a coherent story line, it's a collection of stories, of our three couples (though it's mostly Evan and Matt), the kids, growing up, getting older, getting married, having kids. Life. Family. Love. All entwined together.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Books:
1. Faith & Fidelity [Evan & Matt] (Published 23 September 2008) ★★★★★
2. Love & Loyalty [Jim & Griffin] (Published 8 September 2009) ★★★★★
3. Duty & Devotion [Evan & Matt] (Published 23 March 2010) ★★★★★
4. Cherish [Evan & Matt] (Published 20 November 2012) ★★★★
5. Cherish & Blessed [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] (Published 13 February 2015) ★★★★
6. Truth & Tenderness [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] (Published 1 May 2015) ★★★★
7. Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories [EVERYONE!] (Published 25 December 2018) ★★★★★
5. Cherish & Blessed [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] (Published 13 February 2015) ★★★★
6. Truth & Tenderness [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] (Published 1 May 2015) ★★★★
7. Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories [EVERYONE!] (Published 25 December 2018) ★★★★★
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