Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Chance Arden has to move in a week because his landlords of the past three years have decided to sell his property and move to Florida. He’s in a bit of a state over it, and not actually believing that his meddling sister is reaching out to stranger on Craigslist with an over-the-top ad for a housemate. Tyler Denison, the man with extra room in his home, is apparently extremely gay and wants the world to know it. He also loves music and works from home. His rent is reasonable, and the room is available immediately, so Chance’s sister actually replies to Tyler’s ad for him.
Chance is bisexual, out only to his sister and her family (his only family as his parents have died), but he’s never had a boyfriend. Tyler is—unfortunately?—exactly the type of man that turns Chance’s crank. And, the interview is quite a tense affair what with Chance trying not to ogle the man who may be his landlord and housemate. But they do hit it off and Chance accepts Tyler’s offer of the room to rent. As it turns out, the house is a ten-minute walk to the middle school where Chance is a 7th grade math teacher. It’s seems that things are going well, but each man is having lustful thoughts for the other, and that’s a problem.
Tyler only wants a roommate because he’s lonely. His conservative, religious parents shunned him as a teen, and the home he lives in belonged to his Aunt Dee who took him in when he was cast out. She was the mother of his heart, but she died not long ago. The big house is too empty for an extrovert like Tyler, so he decided to offer a room for rent. And, Chance is a good roommate, a big change from his first few crazy, homophobic housemates. He also loves when Chance’s family comes to visit; he has two young nephews on whom he dotes, and of course, his meddling sister and her engaging husband. Tyler’s history of abandonment by his family makes these close and loving connections especially poignant. He doesn’t want to scare Chance away by lusting after his straight roomie. Well, he’s sure Chance isn’t gay in any case. It’s never dawned on Chance to reveal his true sexuality, and he doesn’t want to admit his growing attraction to Tyler. He needs this place to live, and if they mess up their growing friendship with all the sexytimes he desperately wants to have with Tyler, it could completely unsettle his living situation.
It’s a couple months down the road when things come to a breaking point. It’s a watershed moment that causes each man to re-evaluate their relationship and consider moving from friends to lovers, and how that might impact their living situation.
I selected this book for my Self Published Book Week review in our Reading Challenge Month because I’m a sucker for roommates-to-lovers tropes and I totally LOVE punny t-shirts, so I had high hopes for enjoying this read. This is a dual-narrated story, so we get insight into both Tyler’s and Chance’s thoughts and motivations. I generally like these stories, especially when the biggest obstacle to connection is a person’s fears of rejection. In this case, however, the repetition of scenes and experiences slowed the pace for me. It’s always nice to get internal insights, but I wanted to stay with the plot, not rewind. Beyond that, the characters are fun and engaging. Their mutual love of music is a good jumping off point for building a friendship, and it serves as a counterpoint as they build a relationship, too. Their discomfort over shielding their attractions is pleasantly awkward to experience as a reader.
This is a bit of a slow burn, but once these guys decide to light the match, their love story ignites like a brush fire. Their chemistry is intense, and Chance’s determination to care for Tyler is endearing. The second half of the book brings new conflict in an unexpected form, but no separation for this couple. It also brings a reckoning for Tyler and his estranged family that’s more closure than resolution. Usually when I pick a book for Self Published Book Week I choose one by an established author who is now going indie. So, for an indie author releasing her first novel, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I’d recommend it for people who like contemporary romance, roommates-to-lovers, and twenty-something guys who aren’t afraid to be a bit silly and a bit vulnerable and (eventually) really honest.
This review is part of our Reading Challenge Month for Self Published Book Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win one of ten HUGE prize bundles donated by some fabulous self published authors (you can see the full prize list here)! Commenters will also be entered to win our amazing grand prize sponsored by NineStar Press: a Kindle Paperwhite loaded with 50 NineStar Press books! You can get more information on our Challenge Month here (including all the contest rules) and more details on Self Published Book Week here.
Thank you for your review and boosting a new indie author. Adding book to my list.
This sounds like a fun read, Veronica. I’m curious ~ who wears the punny t-shirts that you mentioned? I’ll admit to loving a good pun.
It’s Tyler with the punny t-shirts, and they are all about his being gay. That’s why he was so startled one of his previous housemates didn’t cotton on to his sexuality.
Thank you for the review. This sounds like one I should give a try.
I also love punny t-shirts and I really like slow burn. Thanks for the review, this is going on my TBR
I’ve been eyeing this one. Thanks for the extra push!
Hope you enjoy!
Sounds intriguing. Thank you for the review. I had seen this one before this.
Thanks for the review! This one appeals to me, I’m going to have to give it a try.
I tend to find dual POV stories repetitive too, but I have been curious about this one!
I do read a lot of these, so I am probably more sensitive to rewinding and rehashing a scene than most readers. I used to like it, but now I’m more impatient to keep the story going forward. ?
I love slow burn romances… and dual point of views make stories so interesting… this sounds really good to me! Thank you for the review, Veronica
You are welcome! 😀
This book looks like it should be on my tbr list?. I love dual pov books. Thank you for the review.
I really enjoyed a Tyler and Chance as well..
Oh, cool! You read it too? You can tell me if I gave away too much of the plot, then…. ?
Oh, this sounds like a lot of fun! Roommates-to-lovers is definitely a trope that I enjoy, and both guys sound like interesting characters.
I definitely enjoyed it, and the characters felt like real people
Not seen this one before, and it probably would catch my attention. However it does sound interesting- the benefits of reading a review!!
Haven’t heard of this before! It sounds pretty good. I love punny t-shirts too! Will give this book a try.
I don’t think this one is for me but thanks for your review!
I’m a fan of the roommates-to-lovers trope and slow burn romances as well, and this book sounds right up my alley. Thanks for reviewing.
I haven’t heard of this one before but I like roommates-to-lovers troupes and slow burn quite a bit. Even if you said it was only a slow burn at the start then burned hot for later in the book – it still sounds good to me. I’ll add it to my to read list. Thanks.
B. has written a great book. I was lucky enough to get an ARC and it was a great introduction to a new author!
It seems I need to push this up on my TBR ?
This sounds very much like my catnip, though I am slightly confused about the dual POV. In a romance, I want to hear from both main characters (I need both characters to have an arc to really make it a romance for me) and usually, I’d refer to that as dual POV. However, I don’t expect to go back and have a scene shown twice, once from each character. But that sounds like how this is? That sounds like a pacing killer for sure. Am I wrong? I want to put this on my TBR pile but am slightly hesitant if there’s a lot of rehashing.