But I’m fully aware the book’s juxtaposition of dubiously-consented-to-sex-work with burgeoning romance won’t be for everyone. Despite the premise (the wealthy roommate pays the poorer roommate for sexual services), I enjoyed the book-which is filled with heat, heart, and humor-and tore through it in a day. Reign’s RENT: PAID IN FULL, which takes the “dark billionaire using money to get the woman he wants” trope and transposes it to an m/m roommates/antagonists-to-lovers romance. Sometimes a book hits my reading sweet spot even when I can objectively see that other readers might rightly have issues with the story. Key quote: “Isn’t that what we all do in life? Try to desperately make the facts fit the story we want to tell ourselves?” A lovely book. It was the plot twist (and how the MCs deal with it) that, in my mind, elevated the book from an angsty romance to a favorite read of the year. Although the issue is neither Tim’s nor Jamie’s fault, it has a huge impact on what the men will do going forward. At about the three-quarters point of the book, I thought BEAUTIFUL HEARTS was well-written and engaging, but I was not prepared for a development that throws a grenade into Tim’s & Jamie’s future plans. Calder does a great job of showing how the couple’s friendship evolves organically-each of them giving the other some much-needed support and understanding-until it becomes physical (and hot!–Calder can really write some sexy-times). Jamie encourages Tim to join a LGBTQ soccer league and the two start practicing and playing in games together. Although they have instant chemistry, Tim & Jamie don’t act upon their physical attraction for a while. After Tim meets Jamie, things begin to change. Since the death of his husband in an automobile accident three years before, Tim has devoted his time to raising his young daughter and hasn’t dated or done much socializing. Published in 2022 and the first in Calder’s Rainbow Redemption series of m/m romances, BEAUTIFUL HEARTS is about Tim, a widowed science teacher in his mid-thirties, and Jamie, a younger man (22) who is hired as the sports coordinator at the school where Tim teaches. It’s only mid-January, and I’ve already read a book that made my favorite reads of 2024: Jax Calder’s angsty & poignant age-gap romance, BEAUTIFUL HEARTS, which is characterized by stellar writing, intricate plotting, and a twist that I absolutely did not see coming. Whatcha reading? Tell us in the comments! I got this book because it was on a list of cozy fantasies, but for me, it’s a bit hard to get cozy vibes while there is slavery involved. I love that Hazel Addison chose to go with a southern accent, but I’m struggling a bit with the subplot about slavery. Maya: I’m listening to That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming and narrated by Hazel Addison. It’s an unusual magic world which makes for fun reading. Lara: I’ve just started Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs ( A | BN | K ) and I’m really enjoying it. ( A | BN ) I just started it and the curse has been broken! Anyway, Sarah reminded me that I’ve been hoarding Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAllister. Shana: What is it called when you read a bunch of books in a row and you hate all of them? It’s not a slump, but it’s not fun either. I love the premise and author’s note but I’m having a hard time with the characters. A | BN Carrie: I’m about halfway through Marry Me By Midnight.
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