Author: Christina Lee
Title: The Deepest Blue
Series Title and Number: Roadmap to Your Heart #2 (can be read as a standalone)
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: 12-4-15
Genre: LGBTQ Romance
Tags: Contemporary, M/M Romance
Heat Level (1 being no sexual content, 5 being erotica): 4
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 250 pages
Lee exchanges skyline for swampland in the next book of her male/male romance series, Roadmap to Your Heart.
Rugged and conventional Callum Montgomery enjoys running Shady Pines hunting preserve, except for the secret that’s eating him alive. When his sister brings a date for a family wedding, he can’t stand the arrogant city slicker with the stick up his perfectly fine ass. He doesn’t understand his draw to Dean, who pushes his buttons at every turn, but he’d never dream of betraying his sibling over some lust fueled fantasy.
Handsome and conscientious Dean Abbott is a research assistant in his university’s biology lab. When his roommate, Cassie, begs him to be her pretend date in front of her meddling family, he begrudgingly agrees to help. He doesn’t anticipate being enchanted by the countryside, the colorful cast of characters, or her sexy and brooding straight brother.
When contempt turns to passion and leads to stolen moments in a sugar cane field, Callum can’t help longing for the kind of connection he believes he can never have. But not even the world’s most heart-melting kiss can bridge the vast philosophical differences between the men.
Dean’s return to his urban lifestyle leaves him restless, his mind continually wandering to the charming setting that spoke to something missing deep inside him. Because you can take the city boy out of the country but you can’t make him forget the intriguing man he left behind.
Handsome and conscientious Dean Abbott is a research assistant in his university’s biology lab. When his roommate, Cassie, begs him to be her pretend date in front of her meddling family, he begrudgingly agrees to help. He doesn’t anticipate being enchanted by the countryside, the colorful cast of characters, or her sexy and brooding straight brother.
When contempt turns to passion and leads to stolen moments in a sugar cane field, Callum can’t help longing for the kind of connection he believes he can never have. But not even the world’s most heart-melting kiss can bridge the vast philosophical differences between the men.
Dean’s return to his urban lifestyle leaves him restless, his mind continually wandering to the charming setting that spoke to something missing deep inside him. Because you can take the city boy out of the country but you can’t make him forget the intriguing man he left behind.
Christina Lee cannot write poorly. This is, once again, such a fantastic love story! Please, if you think you may not like M/M, at least give this one a shot. It is romantic and funny and a little bit angsty. All good qualities for a romance novel. It just happens to take place between two men.
Dean and Cassie are roommates and best friends. She begs him to come home with her as her guest for her cousins wedding. What the family doesn’t know is that Dean is gay. What Dean doesn’t know, is that Cassie’s hot brother, Callum, is also gay.
I loved all the family dynamics in this story. Cassie’s family are southern farmers. Dean comes from very upper middle class white collar workers. It would seem the two would have nothing in common. The heart wants what the heart wants! It doesn’t take Callum long to figure Dean out. The rest of Cassie’s family has some pretty good perception as well. What ensues is a lot of stolen glances and sneaky kisses.
The secondary characters are a perfect compliment to this story. As I said, all those family dynamics come into play. I really hope the author jumps ahead in time and we get to see more of brother Billie.
Of course Ms. Lee can write some steamy scenes as well. There is a whole lot going on in the pantry at Cassie’s house. I may never look at mine the same! Also, a scene at the edge of the woods in the moonlight with “Gus” that amped up all the feels between Dean and Callum.
This is a stand-alone novel written in alternating POV. I am a big fan of this author and cannot wait to see what she brings us next.
*ARC provided for an honest review.
Excerpt
“Isn’t there some law about killing snakes in this state?” I heard our company say. Even out of the corner of my eye I could see that the guy was one of them pretty city boys. He was walking beside my sister, Cassie, who was busy filling him in on rattler containment on personal property. He must’ve been the guest she’d mentioned bringing.
Did he need to be that handsome? Too bad he had to go and open his mouth.
“We can always walk away,” I said. I didn’t dare take my eye off the rattlesnake for a second time. “But that leaves you out here with no protection.”
I heard him gulp at the same time Grammy snickered. “Sounds like our Cassie might’ve brought home some tree hugger.”
Grammy gripped the heavy rock in her fingers, ready to bash the rattler’s skull at a moment’s notice.
“They say when a rattler strikes, your blood turns to fire. Like the venom is boiling away in your veins,” I said and I could hear whatshisname’s breathing change. “You’ve got about a ninety-minute window of time before the poison spreads.”
“And then what happens?” he asked, and I could just imagine his pulse throbbing in his neck. I heard his one foot scrape across the other as if rubbing some imaginary dirt from his spotless shoes. Either that or it was some nervous tick.
I shrugged. “Then you’re dead.”
“Callum. Knock it off,” Cassie said and I could hear the tightness in her voice. It pained me that we hadn’t been in touch for a long while and I certainly didn’t want to piss her off even further.
The snake retreated toward its hiding spot and disappeared without a second glance at the mouse. Damn.
Now I looked our new guest square in the face while my irritation bubbled over. Grammy had banked on making a fresh batch today. Lately I left the hunting to my brother, Braden, but he had a full plate, so I agreed to be a stand-in. “You Cassie’s date for the wedding?”
“That’s right. I, uh, attend the same college,” he said and I couldn’t help my gaze from snagging on the deepest set of blue eyes. Not quite as dark as that tangle of hair that swept in a high arc away from his forehead. Wearing a pair of fancy designer jeans that showed off his trim form, he was smaller than me, but most guys were. And now I felt shitty for checking out my sister’s guest. “The name’s Dean Abbott.”
Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I've been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.
I'm addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M romance. I also own a hand-stamped jewelry business, which requires me to stamp letters and/or words onto pieces of silver. They go hand-in-hand perfectly.
Visit my WEBSITE.
Or my FACEBOOK author page.
You can also find me on TWITTER.
Giveaway
A $10 gift card to your favorite ebook retailer: Amazon, iBooks, or B&N
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