Title: A Mended Man
Series: The Men of Halfway House #4
Author: Jaime Reese
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Detective Aidan Calloway is rock-solid strong. He's a man of justice—loyal to his friends, family, and job—even if it requires bending a law…or two. He shields himself behind an abrasive, fearless facade, until a phone call one night chips his armor and throws his perfectly planned, hollow life into a tailspin.
Jessie Vega is the epitome of optimism. His carefully crafted attitude of hope and positivity protects him from a past filled with too much pain. When a ghost from a dark time resurfaces and nearly breaks him, he must tap into his inner strength or risk losing everything he's worked so hard to build.
But Jessie can't do it alone. He must fight to break through Aidan's ironclad defenses to reveal the heart of the man hiding beneath the tough surface and mend his damaged spirit. Only then can they truly heal and become strong enough to battle the demons that haunt them and threaten their chance to finally be together.
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***This book contains scenes and subject matter some readers may find distressing.***
———
Although part of a series, this book can be read as a stand-alone.
Jessie Vega is the epitome of optimism. His carefully crafted attitude of hope and positivity protects him from a past filled with too much pain. When a ghost from a dark time resurfaces and nearly breaks him, he must tap into his inner strength or risk losing everything he's worked so hard to build.
But Jessie can't do it alone. He must fight to break through Aidan's ironclad defenses to reveal the heart of the man hiding beneath the tough surface and mend his damaged spirit. Only then can they truly heal and become strong enough to battle the demons that haunt them and threaten their chance to finally be together.
———
***This book contains scenes and subject matter some readers may find distressing.***
———
Although part of a series, this book can be read as a stand-alone.
"A beautiful story of love making you whole again!" - Bike Book Reviews
"Heartbreakingly beautiful" - Amazon Customer Review
"As always the wait was worth it and Jaime delivers yet another stunning but very different book." - Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews
"So…where are we going?" Jessie asked, returning the items to the pantry and the refrigerator. He hadn't expected Aidan to arrive home early, and he definitely hadn't expected him to announce a dinner excursion, especially not after spending so much time on the couch lately, having far too much fun to want to escape the house.
"Wherever you want to go is fine. You're always cooking and you stay in the house unless you've got an appointment, so I figured a break would be nice. To get out, do something…different. As long as I can pick a steak, I'm fine with any place you want to go."
"You choose the spot. Surprise me," Jessie said.
"Okay."
"So where are we going?"
"Uh, I thought you said to surprise you?"
Jessie bit his lip, trying to disguise the humor at seeing Aidan squirm. He figured Aidan was probably getting a little edgy lately, always giving in and letting Jessie get his way each time. "I need to know what to wear."
"A suit. Definitely a suit. A dark one. Either the blue one or the charcoal."
"So it's a date?" Jessie asked, trying to contain the flutter in his chest. He cherished their time hanging out on the couch or back porch but going out in public together? Definitely one heck of a milestone.
"Uh, okay," Aidan said with a pinched expression.
"It's not a date?"
Aidan rubbed the back of his neck. "If you want to do something else too, we can."
"We don't have to do anything else. Dinner's fine."
"Okay. So it's not a date?" Aidan said, scratching his stubble.
Jessie hid a grin at Aidan's confusion. "How about you tell me. Do you want it to be a date?"
"I want to take you out to dinner. I want you to wear a suit, because you look hot as hell in them. If that makes it a date, then cool. It's a date. But if I have to do something else to make it a date, like a movie or…fuck if I know…a walk on the beach or something. Let me know and we'll do that too."
Jessie wrapped his arms around Aidan's neck. "Where did you get that from?"
"Google."
"I think you better leave the research to me." Jessie chuckled.
"As long as you wear your suit." Aidan snaked his arms around Jessie's waist and leaned in for a quick kiss.
Jessie nuzzled Aidan's neck. "And you need to keep your stubble. It's hot."
"You like soft balls and hard stubble. I think you're confused regarding what you want."
"I know exactly what I want. I want all of you, soft and hard and everything in between."
Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.
The Men of Halfway House A Better Man A Hunted Man A Restored Man A Mended Man …More to come…
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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and Enticing Journey Book Promotions
Genre: MM Adult Romance
Part 4 in an ongoing series
My A Mended Man Review . . .
So far, I have only read the 3rd & 4th book of this series but I LOVE IT so far. When I EVER get caught up on my reviewing I plan on reading the first two books. That way I can finally read about Hunter & Cam and Julian & Mark's back stories. Even though I haven't read those two I wasn't lost what so ever as the author has done a great job making you able to read this book as part of a series or a standalone.
"You saved me a long time ago, Jess. I've been yours for a while."
A Mended Man is about 2 broken but yet equally strong and beautiful men. Aidan Calloway is an amazing homicide detective and a loyal brother but he's also a bit of a grump. You know he has a burdened past but until now we don't know what has made Aidan so lonely and gruff. The one shining star in Aidan's life is Jessie Vega.
Jessie Vega is a brilliant optimist who has overcome a lot but the one thing that makes him feel safe from his past is Aidan, if only he was able to act on his love for this stubborn man.
"He's an eternal optimist. If he loses his shit, bend over and kiss your ass goodbye because the shitstorm's coming."
Aidan is a bit of a lone wolf at work but when his Captain forces him to join a task force he didn't realize how much it was going to change his world. Normally Aidan works in homicide so when he gets called to a scene with a victim the last person he expects to see is Jessie. Aidan has always loved Jessie but his demons cause him to keep Jessie at a distant.
However, now that Jessie's extremely hurt it causes Aidan to put his life on hold to take care of Jessie. At first we think Jessie is the one who needs to mend after he's a victim but in reality its the very broken Aidan that needs the mending. So together these two help each other mend and find the freedom and happiness that they both deserve.
"Every second of every day, with every breath and heartbeat. Know that I trust you just as much."
It takes quite awhile for Aidan to work through his demons, but the pay out of Jessie is worth the journey for him. There is just something beautiful about these two together. I absolutely loved their journey. Jaime Reese has such a knack at delivering heartfelt, beautiful, raw stories. I fell head over heels for both Jessie and Aidan and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. When they felt pain, I felt the pain. When they felt beauty, I felt the beauty. I love authors who are able to envelope you within the stories and characters that you feel like you are experiencing everything that the characters are feeling.
4.5 Raw and Beautiful Thumbs up!
. 5
Lauren
Thank you so much for the hosting me during the tour and for the amazing review! I'm so glad you enjoyed their story!
ReplyDeleteYou're so very welcome! :) Thanks for such amazing characters.
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