Police captain Asher Penaz’s staunch professionalism bleeds into his home life, down to his neatly pressed attire and spartan apartment. He enjoys being in charge and in control, so his sudden and powerful attraction to the lighthearted, free-spirited Daniel Tover throws him for a loop. In his entire life, Daniel has never gotten what he needs, so he moves to the next place, the next job, the next attempt to find something worth staying for, always landing at the top of his game, but never feeling like he belongs.
The chemistry between Asher and Daniel sizzles, but with all that fire comes the risk of getting burned. As both men struggle to learn themselves while getting to know each other, the lines of desire and control blur. If Daniel and Asher can walk through the flames together, they might find what they desperately need.
I love Daniels character, and to be honest I wasn't sure of Asher to begin with, as he came across as someone who was so used to getting his own way all the time, but so not the case when he was with Daniel.
Asher is actually a dom, but when he was with Daniel he seemed to change, although he did like ordering Daniel about. Daniel originally came across as someone who was a total klutz, and needed looking after - and Asher saved him many a time.
Asher invites Daniel to come and live with him, and to begin with things go well for the couple, unfortunately Asher has a jealous streak a mile wide, and even though Daniel has done nothing, Asher seems to manage to find ways to make Daniel feel bad.
They manage to get through almost everything, until Asher does the total unforgivable to Daniel - by more or less giving him away. As soon as Asher does this, Daniel does the only thing he thinks he can do and that is to run and disappear.....
Does Asher realise he has done wrong? Can Asher actually manage to find where Daniel has gone? Is there any chance of Daniel and Asher managing to get back together, and most importantly will Daniel ever forgive Asher for what he has done?
“So am I bent over something or on my knees?” Daniel asked, his eyes sparkling and a happy smile taking over that cute-as-hell face.
“What?” Asher asked, dumbfounded.
“In that fantasy sequence you’ve got playing in your head right now, am I bent over some piece of furniture or am I on my knees?”
Asher swallowed hard and shook his head. “Neither, actually.”
“Oh.” Daniel’s cheeks reddened and he gestured his chin toward Asher’s packed crotch and the obvious erection trailing down his left thigh. “I just thought since you were turned on that maybe…”
“You were on your back. I was lying on top of you. And we were, um, kissing.”
Big brown eyes met his.
When twenty-two-year-old Emilio Sanchez sees handsome Spencer Derdinger walking by his construction site, Emilio makes it his goal to seduce the shy professor. Getting Spencer into bed isn’t difficult, but Emilio soon learns that earning the trust of a man deeply hurt will take time and patience. With a prize like brilliant, sweet Spencer on the line, Emilio decides he is strong enough to face the challenge.
Spencer is surprised when he’s approached by the gorgeous construction worker he’s admired from the safety of his office window. Acting spontaneously for the first time in his thirty-eight years, Spencer takes Emilio home. When the casual hookup turns into the potential for love, Spencer realizes that if he wants to build a life with Emilio, he’ll need to be strong enough to slay his personal demons and learn to trust again.
Spencer is really taken aback when the hot construction worker – Emilio approaches him as he has always been attracted to the guy. For the first time in his 38 years he decides to throw caution to the wind and take the 22-year-old Emilio back to his place. Spencer realizes that this hook-up might be more then casual sex but an actual love connection. He must now face his past and rid himself of the baggage in order to be open for a relationship with this new man in his life.
Cardeno C never disappoints with her novels and this one is no exception and she really knows how to pull at your heartstrings. The way she makes me fall for her characters like Emilio and Spencer. I like how Emilio, even though he is young he knows Spencer is exactly who he's always wanted and won't take no for an answer. Spencer is not like Emilio at all as he's not as confident but when Emilio is around you can see his self confidence growing. I loved that these two very different guys from different worlds jumped right into each other's arms, right from the start. I truly enjoyed Spencer's best friend Maria and the wisdom that she spewed.
This was a lovely and beautiful love story between two very different men and the way the author created their love was some brilliant writing. The writing style of Cardeno C is some great writing and her characters were developed with such true honesty as I couldn't get enough of them and their love story. I recommend Strong Enough -Book 2 in the Family series by Cardeno C!!!
“A chance at what?” he asked, needing to understand what he was being asked, needing to know what was going on.
“A chance at you, baby.”
“I don’t know what that means. How old are you? I’m thirty-eight; that has to be older than you. Why do you keep calling me baby?”
Emilio stepped back and dragged his gaze from Spencer’s head to his feet and back again. Then he dipped down and whispered into Spencer’s ear. “I’m twenty-two. From the first day I saw you outside of your building, I’ve wanted you. Being older don’t matter. If anything, it’s a good thing. I think you’re hot as hell. All I need is a chance to show you how it can be between us.”
“I have no idea what that means,” Spencer whispered.
“It means that you’re my baby and I aim to prove it to you. If that word bothers you, I’ll use another one,” Emilio said. “But it won’t change nothing.” He leaned back and looked directly at Spencer as he let go of his hand and cupped Spencer’s bulge, squeezing and caressing him from balls to dick. “That clear enough?”
As a teenager, Charlie “Chase” Rhodes meets Scott Boone and falls head over heels in love with the popular, athletic boy next door. Charlie thinks he’s living the dream when Scott says he feels the same way. But his dreams are dashed when Scott unexpectedly moves away.
Years later, Charlie meets brash and confident Adan Navarro, who claims all he wants is a round between the sheets. After eight months together, Charlie is convinced Adan returns his love. But when the opportunity comes to be open about their relationship, Adan walks away.
Time passes and life moves on, but when Charlie learns the only two men he’s ever loved are now in love with each other, his heart breaks all over again. Scott and Adan tell Charlie they want him back, but Charlie doesn’t know if he can trust two people who have hurt him so deeply. Time might not heal all wounds, but with two motivated and strong-willed men on a campaign to win him back, Charlie will get more than he ever thought possible.
My oh my, did I ever feel for Charlie. He fell in love with Scott, even though he was so young, he thought he had found the man to spend his live with.... and Scott moves away, and then over a period of time, all contact stops. Charlie is heartbroken, and for quite a while never really let anybody close to him..... until Adan.
Here is the character I actually hated for what he did to Charlie. Charlie is Charlie which means he is confident and happy, and dresses how he wants, never letting any comments get him down. For some strange reason, Charlie took a liking to Adan, even though Adan was very straight laced couldn't understand Charlie dressing like he did..
Charlie, perhaps naively believed that Adan felt the same as he did, but was quite brutually shown by Adan that this was not the case... or at least Adan didn't think this was the case until too late, until Charlie moved away cutting all contact.
Fast forward a few years, and then more devastating news for Charlie with the death of his sister, and he becomes a parent overnight. He completely changes his life for his niece and nephew, and when he moves into his sisters house, he finds that she kept in contact with Scott, and that Scott is now with Adan.
Now the fun really starts, as both Scott and Adan are both still in love with Charlie, but Charlie is still remembering how Scott left him and Adan showing his true colours. Scott and Adan must work together if they are ever to get Charlie back into their lives, but can they ever persuade Charlie that he should give their relationship a chance, given how both of them seem to have caused Charlie so much misery.
When the year ended, I tore the page out of my calendar and I’ve kept it ever since, folded into a tiny square and stuffed into a pocket in my wallet. It traveled with me as I moved from apartment to apartment, from city to city; it kept me company in cars, subways, trains, airplanes, hell,even on a cruise ship. It’s all creased and worn, but I still have it—the piece of paper marking the date of my first kiss. Our first kiss.
I’ve gotten more skilled at using my lips and tongue since then—we both have. But that first kiss… There’s never been anything else quite like it.
Short-tempered, arrogant heart surgeon Jason Garcia grew up wanting a close-knit family, but believes he ruined those dreams when he broke up his marriage. The benefit of divorce is having as much random sex as he wants, and it's a benefit Jason is exploiting when he meets a sweet, shy man at a bar and convinces him to go home for a no-strings-attached night of fun.
Eight years living in Las Vegas hasn't dimmed Abe Green's optimism, earnestness, or desire to find the one. When a sexy man with lonely eyes propositions him, Abe decides to give himself a birthday present—one night of spontaneous fun with no thoughts of the future. But one night turns into two and then three, and Abe realizes his heart is involved.
For the first time, Abe feels safe enough with someone he respects and adores to let go of his inhibitions in the bedroom. If Jason can get past his own inhibitions and open his heart and his life to Abe, he might finally find the family he craves.
I loved how Jason, the 36 year old hot surgeon meets Abe, the 26 year old teacher as they keep coming back for more. What was suppose to be a casual night of hot sex turns into much more. I loved how Jason is still friends with his ex-wife, Angela as it makes for a more realistic look on a modern family and I loved his ex-wife. I thought how Abe and Jason's relationship grows slowly was so well written as they hopped into bed fast but not into their hearts as fast. Angela really convinces Jason to accept Abe into the family and the best advice ever as it benefits everyone.
I truly loved the dynamics of this family as it felt so realistic and organic. This is what today's family represents as it's no longer the stereotypical family. The author did such an amazing job creating these amazing and brilliant characters and their stories. The sex scenes were so hot yet beautiful and loved the connection that Abe and Jason shared and then to bring in Jason's family was just wonderful. The way the author developed the amazing character of Jason was great as he had to come to turns with a lot in his life and his heart was still open to having that family life. I highly recommend The Half Of US by Cardeno C to anyone who loves reading about the true meaning of love and family!