Diverse Reader: Release Day Blitz: Test Drive by Riley Hart #Review #Giveaway #Excerpt

TEST DRIVE

A CROSSROADS NOVEL

RILEY HART

M/M ROMANCE

COVER DESIGN: X-Potion Designs

COVER PHOTO: Jean-Baptiste HUONG

RELEASE DATE: 05.30.16

BLURB

A double shot of devastating news turns Justin Evanson’s life upside down. When he learns his father has cancer, and he has siblings he never knew existed, he leaves everything behind and moves to Virginia to support his dad as he tries to make amends with his family—a family Justin’s not sure he has a place in. Things go from bad to worse when he discovers his recent hookup is his newfound sister’s brother-in-law.

Drew Sinclair never expected to see Justin after their night at the club or to discover their family connection. If anyone found out, it would give Drew’s brother another reason to hate him. But there’s something about Justin that draws him in, and it’s not only because they burn up the sheets together.

One meeting leads to another, and before Justin realizes it, Drew has become the only thing in his world he feels is his. And for the first time in his life, Drew knows what it means to be needed. Being there for Justin and supporting him when things spiral out of control feels right. But with so much happening so quickly, it’s hard to trust their feelings. Is this thing between them real? Or just a test drive before life forces them down two separate roads?

BUY LINKS

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1VnpGo4

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1OUeEAb

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/24dOuiJ

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/20PcCHE

iBooks: http://apple.co/1VnqbP2

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Z6ciDO

B&N: http://bit.ly/1X42Cg4

TEASERS

EXCERPT

Justin made his way toward his… brother and Landon gave him a quick nod. “Is this as weird for you as it is for me?” Landon asked. Justin exhaled. “Yes. Christ. I didn’t expect it to be.” Which didn’t make sense. Of course it would be strange. They were a mismatched family, celebrating his father’s birthday when the man looked like he would pass out at any second. “What? How could you not expect this to be uncomfortable? Hell, I’m just Landon’s boyfriend and it’s even awkward for me,” Rod said, and Justin glanced up to see Landon lovingly roll his eyes, before he wrapped an arm around Rod’s shoulders and pulled him close. Rod was smaller than Landon. He wore black eyeliner that made his eyes stand out. “Please, don’t hold back for us,” Landon replied. “I wouldn’t think of it,” was Rod’s response, but Justin thought he knew what Rod was doing. He wanted to make Landon laugh, wanted to take the edge off, and he found himself grateful that Landon hadn’t let the fact that Rod found out about Justin and his dad before Landon did come between them. They were a strong couple. You could see the love between them. The three of them chatted for a few minutes before Rod excused himself for the restroom. “I should probably go talk to him.” Landon crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. There was no doubt in Justin’s mind whom he was speaking about. “I know he’d like that. I get that it’s hard, though.” Landon turned his way. “What do I say? Jesus, it’s really shitty that I don’t know how to talk to my own dad.” Anger burned through Justin’s insides. He was angry at their dad for putting them all in this situation. How hard would it have been to tell Justin and his mom about Shanen and Landon? To be a father to them, too? He bit back the anger and said, “Hi. Happy Birthday. Anything will do.” Landon didn’t move, though. He eyed their father on the other side of the room. Justin followed his stare, which is how he saw the man walk in. But not just any man. Drew. The guy he met in a club the night Shanen got married. His brows pulled together. What in the hell was he doing here? Because this wasn’t awkward enough without the guy he wanted to fuck obviously knowing Shanen. “Ah, hell. I think I jerked off in a club with the guy who just walked in.” “What?” Landon’s voice actually cracked on the word. He looked from Justin, to Drew, and back to Justin again. His gut sank, and he was pretty sure he should have kept his mouth shut because this was about to get a whole lot worse. “That’s Shanen’s brother-in-law. He’s Jacob’s brother, and I’m pretty sure Shanen would have told me if he wasn’t straight. I know he’s not close with Jacob, but she would have thought it was coincidence enough if she married a man with a gay or bisexual brother.” Oh fuck. Damn it all to hell. Justin tried to hide his shock. He looked at Drew again, studied him—the scruff on his face, that jaw and those fucking lips—of course it was really who he thought it was. Still, he said the first lie that popped into his head. “Shit. That’s not him. Hair’s not right and I’d remember that mouth anywhere.” Which was true. It was the first thing he’d noticed. Wasn’t this just perfect? He’d come here to get to know his family, and out of all the men in Virginia, he’d somehow ended up jacking off with his sister’s husband’s brother, who was obviously in the closet. The brother of the year award definitely wasn’t going to him. Landon eyed him, skepticism in his eyes. Before he could say anything, Rod stepped back up and wrapped his arms around Landon. “What did I miss?”

Review

This is book 3 in Riley Hart’s Crossroads series and it is by far the most emotional, heartbreaking, and heartwarming of the 3 in my opinion. When Shifting Gears ended we were a bit slack jawed. Though there wasn’t a cliffhanger you knew there was a lot of story left to tell.

Justin entered the picture as Landon and Shanen’s half-brother. One they knew nothing about. One that brought so much tension and anguish to their already delicate lives. With Justin came their dying father. And so begins the journey that is Test Drive.

What was pretty cool about this story was there was a story within the story. We had Drew in this story too. And when Justin and Drew meet they have no idea WHO each of them are and how their meeting is going to make tangles in their lives. That part was very fate based to me and I loved that.

There’s death in Test Drive. An ending. One that had me sobbing. I’ve lost family to cancer. I remember being around my grandmother’s bed as I watched the last breath leave her body. So for Justin I understood it completely. That feeling. The lucid moment he sees in his father and then, nothing. I thought Riley mastered that brilliantly. It was spot on and it really spoke to me.

There’s life in Test Drive. A beginning. That is Drew and Justin. It’s Landon and Rod, Shanen and Jacob, Bryce and Nick. Life is for the living and we are forever grateful for the souls, now gone, for putting us here to enjoy the beautiful glimmer life is. That, I felt was the moral to this story.

We have to let go of the anger, the hate, the loss. We can’t let moments pass us by because it’s those moments that make futures.

As rough as this story was on my heart it was beautiful too. It was a journey of emotions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Riley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s a hopeless romantic, a lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together.

She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine, while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.

Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.

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Twitter: @RileyHart5