I loved this book when I read it with my eyes and I loved it even more when I listened to Nick J. Russo’s performance of the story.  There’s a reason he is on my list of favorite audiobook performers and audiobooks like this one are why.  His voice is always pleasant to listen to and he does distinctive voices for each character.  I really can’t say anything else to add to my original review from when I read it so it follows below here.

After reading book one in this series, You, Again, I couldn’t wait to read this book especially because I knew it would feature grumpy chef, JC, who was a secondary character in You, Again.

When Riley suffers a serious concussion during a game he heads to Elmwood where his friend has offered him a quiet place to stay while he recovers.  He frequents the diner owned by his friend’s husband and he is drawn to JC, the diner’s chef.  He really doesn’t understand why he finds JC so attractive because JC is gay and Riley is definitely not.  Well, he soon learns that he isn’t so straight after all.

Parts of this story just about broke my heart because Riley really is seriously injured and his recovery from the nasty concussion isn’t swift.  He suffers migraine-like headaches, can’t tolerate bright light and isn’t allow to do any kind of strenuous exercise; he’s not even allowed to skate at first.

When Riley becomes convinced that JC’s tuna salad sandwiches have healing properties and reduce the severity of his headaches, JC offers to teach him how to make the tuna salad for himself.  Things progress slowly from there after Riley surprises both of them by kissing JC.

I loved the chemistry between these two.  Not just the sexual chemistry – although that is really hot – it’s the friendship that develops between them that I found compelling.  When it looks like they will be forced to put their relationship aside, I wanted to scream Noooo!!

I loved how Lane Hayes resolved the problem and the epilogue set several months down the road was perfect.  I was also very happy to learn that another Elmwood story, a holiday novella, is coming soon.

Reviews for Lane Hayes

Reviews for Nick J. Russo

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I hadn’t known it was possible that someone’s voice on a cell phone could make your heart skip a beat. What kind of sorcery was that?

And it was even worse when Riley walked into a room.

Like now.

“Practice was good. It was a tough workout, but the juniors are coming along and I didn’t feel like I was going to puke afterward. In fact, if it hadn’t been so stormy, I’d planned on jogging over here.”

“That is not a storm. It’s little baby snowflakes and wind,” I taunted.

Riley snorted. “You just said my lips were cold. I could test them on your dick.”

“I accept your challenge, but we’re at a crucial moment with the dough. We have to knead the dough, proof it, knead it again, and bake it. You leave the dough for too long, you get bad bread.”

“I thought all bread was good.”

“Meh, not quite. If it’s over-proofed, your bread will look funny. It will collapse or go lopsided and the flavors may be off. That won’t be a problem for us. I don’t make bad bread.”

“I believe you. I’ve never attempted to make bread. Out of my wheelhouse.”

“I don’t know what that means, but today is your lucky day. Come, Riley. You can take over while I stare at your ass.”

He barked a laugh and shook his head as if to protest. “Actually, you know what? Put me in, Coach. Show me how to knead your dough.”

Riley hopped off the counter and sidled behind me, squeezing my ass as he tilted his hips suggestively. An electric current zinged through me at the contact and just like that, my cock swelled in my sweats. A rogue vision of Riley inside me took me by surprise. I hadn’t been on the receiving end in years—not my thing. But I might be persuaded…for him.

Crisse, where had that come from?

I refocused, tossing a spare apron his way without making eye contact, waiting till he’d washed his hands to fire off instructions.

“Flour first.” I dusted his hands liberally with flour and pointed at the heel of his palm. “Dig into it. Don’t be shy. Good. Now fold the dough in half toward you and push it away. Turn the dough and repeat.”

He listened intently, making adjustments as advised. “So…this is it? Doesn’t seem so hard.”

“It’s not. Baking is a science. As long as you follow the rules, you’ll get the results you want.”

The Elmwood Stories Series

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