New Release Review: Chasing The Dream by Anne Marie James #Review #Giveaway

Title: Chasing The Dream
Author: Anne Marie James
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Length: 204 pages 

Reviewed by Jenn


Synopsis

When Lee meets his fantasy man, his shy nature makes him want to run. But what will he do when his dream guy won’t let him?

Saul Valencia. Tall? Check. Muscles? Check. Everything Lee Clark ever dreamed of in a man? Check. Bad case of nerves and feeling like an idiot whenever he’s around? Sigh. Check.

Being kicked out of the family home for being gay would have been bad enough, but Lee Clark also worked in his dad’s garage. Losing his family, his home and his job all in the same day left him floundering. He can’t believe his luck might be changing when he finds a job at Everyone’s Mechanic, another garage, where he’s accepted for who he is.

Then Saul, a former linebacker for the NFL Raleigh Raptors and a friend of Lee’s boss, walks into his life. The man is the embodiment of all his teenage fantasies, but Lee doesn’t dare hope Saul will ever actually notice him.

Intrigued from the start by the shy man now working for his business partner’s boyfriend, Saul struggles through bad advice and misunderstandings to convince Lee that he’s serious about wanting a chance with him. Getting Lee to give him a shot at romance was difficult enough, but when drama and blackmail from outside sources are added in, the relationship becomes almost impossible.

It will take the combined efforts of Lee’s garage family and Saul’s real one to set things right.

Purchase Links 

Publisher

Amazon

Review

Anne Marie James’s Chasing the Dream is such a great read! I really enjoyed this story and these characters; I look forward to seeing what this author does next.

Lee is a shy, talented mechanic and artist. He’s been kicked out of his home by his homophobic father and also loses his job working for his father. He is alone and finding his way in the world for the first time. A help wanted sign leads him to Everyone’s Mechanic. In this shop, Lee finds more than just employment, he finds a home, a new family, and maybe even love.

Saul Velencia is a retired NFL linebacker and teenage crush of Lee. Saul now owns a thriving business with the partner of Kirk, the owner of Everyone’s Mechanic. Saul is instantly captivated by Lee, his shyness, his talent, everything about him speaks to Saul. Recognizing that Lee is extremely shy, a bit awkward and someone special…Saul is in. He understands that Lee needs him to go slowly, he needs wooing and Saul is ready to win this special man’s heart. What neither man expects is someone from the past looking to cause trouble…dangerous trouble. Lee and Saul have the support of so many, especially the family they’ve built with the Everyone’s Mechanic group. With the kind of support Lee never could have imagined, we see just how strong he really is.

This is a first novel from this author for me, and I think she did an amazing job! Anne Marie James writes an interesting story with characters, both main and secondary that I cared about immediately. This book made me feel and I love that. We meet some wonderful people and are introduced to a chosen family that we would all be lucky to be part of. I really recommend giving this book a read, I think this author has a lot more to say and I can’t wait to see what’s coming. This doesn’t read like a first novel, there is such smooth storytelling and character building. So happy to have gotten a chance to read this one. Lee is special and he and Saul together had me cheering them on for a HEA!

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Release Day Review: Chasing the Dream by Andrew Grey #Review #Giveaway

Author: Andrew Grey
Book: Chasing the Dream
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: July 11, 2016
Length: 183 pages



Reviewed by Meredith



Synopsis

Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Brian Paulson has lived a life of luxury and ease. If he’s been left lonely because of his family’s pursuit of wealth and their own happiness, he figures it’s a small price to pay for what he sees as most important: money.

Cade McAllister has never had it easy. He works two jobs to support himself, his mother, and his special-needs brother. They don’t have much, but to Cade, love and taking care of the people who are important to him mean more than material possessions. When Cade is mugged in the park, he can’t afford to lose what little he has, and he’s grateful for Brian’s intervention.

Cade is given a chance to return the favor when Brian’s grandfather passes away and Brian’s assets are frozen. Cade offers Brian a place to stay and helps him find work, and the two men grow closer as they learn the good and the bad of the very different worlds they come from. Just as Brian is starting to see there’s more to life than what money can buy, a clause in his grandfather’s will could send their relationship up in smoke.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

REVIEW

I love Andrew Grey’s writing. I always have but Chasing the Dream is by far my most favorite book of his he’s ever written. Take that as HUGE because I adore his work. Where do I begin with this book?

Brian had everything, he was richer than rich. Never wanting for a thing and never knowing what a hunger pain was.

Cade grew up with wondering where his next meal would come from, caring for his special needs brother, and an ailing mother. He worked for everyone else his entire life.

Then fate brings them together and what happens from there had my mind in a spin, my heart fluttering, tears pouring down my face, and ALL. THE. SIGHS.

Rich man saving poor man is one of my favorite tropes. But in this instance it was poor man save rich man, then rich man save poor man. It was fairytalish in a way but there was so much reality to it it didn’t become at all cheesy. Brian and Cade’s characters were phenomenal in every way. Andrew wrote them flawlessly. And Phillip? Outstanding. I don’t know what research Andrew did but he nailed it. I’ve read many special needs characters that are very much written as carbon copies of each other, reading Phillip was a treat. The love Cade has with his brother is heartwarming and often brought me to tears.

The evolution of Brian and Cade’s story was breathtaking, emotional, and justified. Yeah, it felt like justice in the end and that was what I loved most about it.

So, yeah, this is the best Andrew Grey book I’ve ever read! Huge bravo! This is a must read. One of the best books of 2016!

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