Successful underwear model Scott Ashworth is lucky—his attack at the hands of an unknown assailant will leave no visible scars. His professional goals are still within reach, and best of all, his stepbrother Rylan Mahoney is back in his life, their teenage infatuation at last getting the chance to deepen into something more.
Thrown together by the circumstances of Scott’s injury, Rylan’s long-dormant feelings for him are quickly rekindled, though he’s haunted by the memory of Scott’s disappearance on the night of his eighteenth birthday and the six missing years that followed. Rylan pushes Scott for the truth, a firm believer in the maxim that secrets lose their power once they’re shared—but resurrecting old demons almost always comes with a price.
Before Scott knows it, his life is spiraling out of control, his toxic insecurities welling up to threaten the fragile relationship he’s building with Rylan. Learning to let go of the past and believe in himself will be Scott’s greatest challenge, or else he risks losing Rylan forever this time.
Tags: angst, family drama, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, model (ish), Photographer/photojournalist, reunited, step brothers
Thrown together by the circumstances of Scott’s injury, Rylan’s long-dormant feelings for him are quickly rekindled, though he’s haunted by the memory of Scott’s disappearance on the night of his eighteenth birthday and the six missing years that followed. Rylan pushes Scott for the truth, a firm believer in the maxim that secrets lose their power once they’re shared—but resurrecting old demons almost always comes with a price.
Before Scott knows it, his life is spiraling out of control, his toxic insecurities welling up to threaten the fragile relationship he’s building with Rylan. Learning to let go of the past and believe in himself will be Scott’s greatest challenge, or else he risks losing Rylan forever this time.
Tags: angst, family drama, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, model (ish), Photographer/photojournalist, reunited, step brothers
If a nice sweet little romance is what you are looking for, this is most definitely not what this book is. This is a step brothers, friends to lovers story, and I felt both sorry and angry at both Scott and Rylan throughout the book.
I will say now, that I know this is book 2 of a series, and I have not read book 1, which I believe is Scott and Rylan growing up, and then again six years later. However, although I will probably go and buy book 1 to complete the set, I was not lost at all reading this book.
Both Scott and Rylan are complicated men, Scott more so then Rylan, but I believe that this all stems back to his life once he left home., and more importantly how he sees himself, and what he did to survive. Rylan loves Scott, but it seems like he is fighting a losing battle. Sometimes Scott seems to accept that Rylan does love him, then when something happens, all the doubts and self loathing come back full force.
I am not going to give away any spoilers, but to me this book is one where you are watching both Rylan and Scott grow emotionally. Sometimes, the decision you have to make may seem hard, but in the long term it is the best thing to do.
Is Scott able to finally believe that Rylan does love him? Or will he let his past totally cloud his judgement and common sense and send away the one person who sees him exactly as he is??
I will say now, that I know this is book 2 of a series, and I have not read book 1, which I believe is Scott and Rylan growing up, and then again six years later. However, although I will probably go and buy book 1 to complete the set, I was not lost at all reading this book.
Both Scott and Rylan are complicated men, Scott more so then Rylan, but I believe that this all stems back to his life once he left home., and more importantly how he sees himself, and what he did to survive. Rylan loves Scott, but it seems like he is fighting a losing battle. Sometimes Scott seems to accept that Rylan does love him, then when something happens, all the doubts and self loathing come back full force.
I am not going to give away any spoilers, but to me this book is one where you are watching both Rylan and Scott grow emotionally. Sometimes, the decision you have to make may seem hard, but in the long term it is the best thing to do.
Is Scott able to finally believe that Rylan does love him? Or will he let his past totally cloud his judgement and common sense and send away the one person who sees him exactly as he is??
Melanie Hansen has spent time in Texas and Florida prisons…for work. She’s been in a room with a 17-year-old mass murderer who was also one of the most soft-spoken and polite teenagers she’s ever met. After a 13-year career as a court reporter, she can tell many stories both hilarious and heartbreaking.
She grew up with an Air Force dad, and ended up marrying a Navy man. After living and working all over the country, she hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to her stories about people finding love amidst real-life struggles.
Melanie left the stressful world of the courtroom behind and now enjoys a rewarding career transcribing for a deaf student. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.
She grew up with an Air Force dad, and ended up marrying a Navy man. After living and working all over the country, she hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to her stories about people finding love amidst real-life struggles.
Melanie left the stressful world of the courtroom behind and now enjoys a rewarding career transcribing for a deaf student. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.
