Reclaim (Under My Skin #3) [Elijah & Kam] by Christina Lee

Sweet and endearing story of best friends to lovers. Sometimes when I read a book a certain word pops out and keeps reappearing in my mind. In this one it was TENDER. Everything about these two, the connection they shared and the way everything progressed was SO tender. It was the way they treated one another, the way things easily flowed into a relationship they didn't even realize they are sort of having. It's the low angst and the comfortableness (if it's even a word) you feel around someone you love and trust. Yep, Tender is the word.

We've met both Kam and Elijah in the previous installments in the series though it COULD be read as a stand-alone with a few glimpses into the lives of the other couple mentioned in the 2 previous ones which are also MUST READS just so you'll know :) Where was I? yeah. So, Elijah works at "Doggie Styles" a dog day care, pretty close to his best friends's bike shop "Spin Cycle".



Kamnan ("Kam" in short) and Elijah have been best friends since childhood, dealing together with the difficulties of life. Kam raised by a single mother who made pretty difficult decisions to make a better future for both of them and Elijah dealing with an abusive father. Sticking to one another, Kam and Elijah always made a place for each other in their lives even if they didn't see each other as frequently as they wished.

When Kam finds himself thrown into a ditch in the middle of a cycling competition because of a freaking CAT he is bedridden until both his knee and shoulder heal. Kam is overwhelmed with how his close circle makes a schedule to take care of him, and though he expected his mother and aunt and even his ex-wife, he is still surprised with Elijah offering to come and help him every night when he finishes work. For Elijah it's no sweat - helping Kam is what he WANTS to do, not something he just feels obligated to offer and so this is how they spend their time for more than a month. Each night Elijah comes and stays with Kam, taking care of him in the most basic ways but also just spends time with him watching TV. Their close friendship makes it easy for them to enjoy each other's company even if they never shared so much time together in the past or the sort of intimacy they find themselves sharing though Elijah caring for Kam. 

As the days goes by, each of them finds a strange attraction and a certain change to the way they see each other. They were both feeling uncertain, not wanting to damage their special long lived friendship. Losing each other isn't an option so it's no wonder they somehow "stumble in the dark", preferring to act shyly than saying what's truly on their minds. It took them time, but every minute of it was a step they needed to take before they could realize that THIS is what they have been waiting and hoping for. 

I can say so much more about this novel. About cute Ginger the Collie who adds more color to their lives, and also Olivia, Kam's daughter who certainly helps Kam realize that what he sees between her and Elijah is what he has always hoped he will find someday in his partner (man or woman). There's Stuart (Elijah's ex) I wanted to murder every page he appeared (as I felt in the previous books where he was mentioned) and yet I LOVED the way things concluded with him as well. Everything in this book fit SO right. I enjoyed getting more of our previous couples. Their journeys were more "angsty" and so seeing the HEA even if just in little glimpses made me extremely happy.

I've said enough. I hope it made you realize how much you need to grab this one and read it. I promise you'll end up with a stupid smile on your face. Well, until you read the bonus scene that one made me LAUGH OUT LOUD before closing my kindle feeling utterly content. 

I kindly received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. 

This book kinda sneak released on me yesterday. 
Grab it through Amazon / KU (link below).

Christina Lee 

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.

Facebook Fan Group "The Swoon Room" / Website / Newsletter / Instagram

Rating: ★★★★★

E-Book Edition

168 pages

Read on: 27-28 March 2018

ABOUT THIS SERIES

 

Under My Skin is a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Contemporary MM Romance series by Christina Lee. It loosely centers around "Doggie Styles" a dog day care. Tristan (the owner) as well as Brin and Elijah all work there and they all SO deserve to find their HEA. The 4th one was a surprise. Our "villains" of the 2nd and 3rd books unite in the best possible way!

The first two were more "angsty" with the third being beautifully tender, the forth gave a wonderful closure in a second chance and not only in romance. They are all awesome MUST READS. They CAN be read as a stand alone ones but I always like starting at the beginning and getting to know the characters "by order". 

Books:
1. Regret [Brian “Brin” Schubert & Nicholas Dell] (Published 25 June 2017) ★★★★★
2. Reawaken [Tristan Rogers & Jonas “West” Hollis] (Published 2 November 2017) ★★★★★
3. Reclaim [Elijah & Kamnan "Kam"] (Published 27 March 2018) ★★★★★
4. Redeem [Michael Walsh & Stewart Jenkins] (Published 28 February 2019) ★★★★★