While I LOVED the previous novels in this series, this one was so-so. We start this book with Jeremy in the hospital after he was nearly killed by the mob-boss who was after Johnny/Gianni's boyfriend Stanley, Aiden being pissed as HELL about the whole situation but when he comes to his senses and mostly when Jeremy comes home things begin to settle between them, Jeremy goes through a whole process especially with the big event he finds himself planning for Ariadne's baby who needs to have a surgery.
The last paragraph summed up the whole story. Though there ARE a lot of bumped along the way, it's mostly Jeremy learning his value not only to Aiden but to people in the community. I guess truly seen by everyone he is honest to his core. Unlike the previous ones this one is the length of a full novel and it has dual POVs of both Jeremy and Aiden. It was a nice change and was needed in this story.
As I said in the previous installments, any of the novels in the series shouldn't be read as a stand alone. Better start at the beginning and get the whole story behind all the reoccurring people and naturally not get spoilers which are evident especially because of time overlap in the books. Consider this paragraph a spoiler alert if you haven't read the previous ones!
This one reminded me a little of the first installment, coming from Stanley's POV it's hard to keep a straight face throughout this book. The way he looks at life, his flashy and unapologetic self is a JOY to read (meaning a LOT of laugh-out-loud moments!) and yet something was missing, I think it was Johnny who was in a way too good to be true. Some would classify this one as "insta-love" but I think it was the two of them longing for more and finding each other at the perfect time.
quick note before I continue on to my review - this series must be read in order. Not only because of overlapping time-lines but also because characters we met in the previous installments play important roles in the next, so if you haven't read the first two it's better to start at the beginning and maybe even stopping reading my review so you won't be spoilered ;)
~sigh~ was a beautiful heart breaking story! From reading the first one, I expected this one to be funny and easy going but it was actually the kind of love story that breaks your heart at every turn. I loved that the younger guy - Aiden was the one to navigate the relationship, leaving Jeremy no other choice but to follow in his footsteps or else!
Jeremy's dad was a con man so that's what he grew up to be, but after his father is shot to death in front of him he realizes that's NOT how he wants to live his life, yet being an honest man isn't something he knows how to be! So while two years in jail did help a little (having no one to con..) the first step comes along when Rance Crawford offers him first a warm meal, then a job opportunity including free meals and a place to stay which are the three things he asks for in life.
Sweet and funny, you know what, not just funny - HILARIOUS. You just have to get used to that sort of humor - the way Rance sees life, meaning ONLY through critters / knitting / wool making analogies, was kinda strange at the beginning but quickly it grew on me, and no surprise on Ben as well.
Rance Crawford (our sole POV) lives in a small town and does what he loves best, tending to his alpacas and making wool. Naturally he knits as well, but only for the ones closest to him which is not a lot of people mind you.. mostly the ones working for him and now his new gay neighbor Ben.
