How far would you go for the man of your dreams?
Jordan is surprised and charmed that Miles pursues him. When Jordan learns the stable is in trouble, he wants to help despite Miles's resistance. As their relationship grows personally and professionally, Jordan dreads the issues that face them--an ex who won't let him go, the complications of a long-distance relationship, and a secret he knows he shouldn't be keeping.
Can Jordan and Miles find a way to forge a love as timeless as the romance in their favorite film?
States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
Buy links: Dreamspinner | Amazon
Cat gives this one 4 Meows with a 2 Purr heat index...
Somewhere on the Mackinac is a sweet romance set on Mackinac Island during the Somewhere in Time Convention. (If you haven't watched the movie and planned to this book may contain spoilers for those of us that have but long ago it may make you want to watch again!
Jordan lives in Chicago, has a business of his own, and a great friend. He has recently broken up with a boyfriend and sometimes business co-worker. He has wanted to go to the Somewhere in Time vacation for a long time and decided to go this year. He hates going alone. He meets a Stable owner Miles, and they instantly hit it off and are attracted. Jordan overhears Miles talking about his business being in danger and offers to help.
One thing I love about the States of Love stories is how the setting is a big part of the book. I loved the quaint setting and longed to be there. I didn't mind the instant attraction between Miles and Jordan as it didn't seem Insta-love, more a deep attraction. My only issue was the ex-boyfriend scenario didn't really fit. I think the book would have worked without it.
If you are looking for a short, sweet story full of romance, a romantic setting, and a sweet ending, I think you will enjoy this.
Excerpt...
LEAVE IT to Drake to make the start of vacation annoying.
“Come on, Jordan, how could you just go solo?” Drake’s voice boomed through the car’s speakers. “How’s it going to look to our colleagues that you’ve gone off to a romance weekend on your own?”
Unbelievable. He hadn’t wanted me to go on this trip last year when we were a couple, and he was still trying to spoil it.
I clicked the controls on the steering wheel to lower the volume. His agitated voice was a stark contrast to the calm, peaceful, rural landscape of Michigan. It was a perfect fall day and ideal for driving the Mackinaw Trail, also known by its far less sexy name of US 131. Until the phone call, I’d been cruising along and enjoying the farmland, mostly bare trees, and lack of traffic.
Five hours north of Chicago and everything was perfect—at least until Drake had called and interrupted my music shuffle of love songs. I should’ve sent the call to voice mail.
“Why do you care?” I forced myself to be calm since I wasn’t interested in playing the game where he expected everyone to match his level of distress. It was one of the reasons I’d broken it off with him. His ongoing need for drama wore me out. I was still connected to him because of business ties, though. Drake’s firm and mine shared several clients and often made referrals to each other.
“Sometimes I don’t understand you,” he said, exasperated.
That wasn’t an answer. He used one of his go-to phrases for getting people to feel bad about their choices.
“The feeling’s mutual,” I muttered, not caring if he heard.
“When will you be back?”
“Tuesday, maybe Wednesday.”
Silence.
“The Cooper dinner is Monday night.”
“Yeah, and Alberto has that covered.”
“Our firms bought the table together. We can’t have an empty chair. And you’re one of the partners.”
“Alberto has someone for my chair too.” Annoyance crept into my voice. “This trip has been on my calendar since right after you bailed on it last year.”
“I’ll come up with an excuse.” He sounded even more annoyed. In a weird way, he seemed to enjoy being upset.
“That’s not your place. Alberto will speak for me and the firm.”
“There’s no way we can tell people you’ve gone off to an island to celebrate some sappy movie.” He ignored what I said.
“Tell them whatever you want.” My thumb played over the disconnect button. I needed to get back to enjoying the drive and my playlist. “I gotta go.”
“Jord—”
I hung up.
Jeff's written stories since he was in middle school and became a gay romance writer in 2009 when his first short stories were published. Since then he's written several more shorts and novels, including some in the young adult genre, and he plans to keep writing as long as wonderful readers keeping picking up his books. Jeff lives in rural Northern California with his husband of twenty years, Will. Some of his favorite things include the musicals Rent and [title of show], the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey teams, and the reality TV competition "So You Think You Can Dance." If forced to pick his favorite book it would be a tie between Michael Chabon's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" and David Levithan's "Every Day." Jeff is also the co-host of "Jeff & Will's Big Gay Fiction Podcast"
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Congrats and thanks for the excerpt, and review. Makes me want to go to Mackinac. I've not been on a themed weekend, but I have been on a cruise, and been to many professional conventions ... and on one, I met my husband-to-be :-). -
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Thanks for the intro to Jeff and his work. I love all I have read so far, and can't wait to read the rest of his books.
ReplyDeletecongrats on the release
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Congrats
ReplyDeleteCongrats gjordan0609@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review & excerpt!
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