Two men trying to heal from their painful pasts find each other in this emotionally intense m/m read set in a small town. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Cherry Pie by Samantha Kane, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf. In honor of this first installment in the Mercury Rising series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a digital copy of this book too!
You can go home again—if you can get a foot in the door.
A year after packing and moving from L.A. to Mercury, North Carolina, John Ford still hasn't adjusted to the heat. Or to life without his long-time partner. As he fixes up the old house he bought, the quiet becomes his only companion, and he's content with that—until a deep-voiced stranger plants himself under a tree across the street.
Eight years ago, Connor Meecham left someone behind in that house—himself. Now he's back to find the man he used to be, before drugs and prison sent his life careening off the tracks. But it's not his mother's face peering through the window any more. It's a man who seems as lost as Conn himself.
When John learns what the house—and the dying town—mean to Conn, he finds himself opening the door to his heart. Just a crack. But it's enough to get mixed up in a world of emotions as complicated as the recipe for the perfect cherry pie. Where one misstep can turn something sweet and juicy into one hot mess.
Warning: Contains a guitar-wielding, brooding Southern boy and a reclusive millionaire with a weakness for cherry pie and hot coffee. Excessive porch sittin' and lemonade included.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Small town support and criticism is just part of the backdrop to this emotionally intense m/m romance that brings together two men trying to move beyond their painful pasts. Theirs is a combustible connection from the very start as they forge a bond while renovating a childhood home as well as opening their hearts to love.
John once had his whole life planned out with Steve by his side until hard truths and death had John running from his disillusions. Hiding away in a small town while renovating a house holding its own ghosts soon changes his life irrevocably when he opens his front door to a man who leaves his feelings in disarray. John's a man of wealth who's content to live without ties to his new community as he doesn't want to risk his heart again. He's a bit stoic and serious-minded at the start but helping Connor brings out a softer side to him. Being with him has John finally going after what he wants, finally living life to the fullest in a burgeoning relationship that goes through some gut-wrenching changes to reach HEA.
Connor left town as its Golden Boy but the years since have been anything but golden as he fell on hard times. A college football injury led to addiction, and in desperation to keep numbing his pain, prostitution. Embarrassment, and time in jail, kept him from returning home when his mother died but now that he's back he plans to stay. Meeting John gives him a chance for redemption, by renovating his childhood home he hopes to find the less jaded pieces of his soul that he lost over the years. He's drawn to John but their relationship is weighed down by his past in the beginning. Working on the house, and finding a job with a friend's father, combine to give Connor's self-esteem a boost which strengthens his connection to John throughout the story and had me applauding him by the end of the story.
From the first page to the last this was a gut-wrenching story that dealt with hard-truths. John was betrayed by love while Connor was betrayed by life in this tale of opposites attracting. Together they found healing in their burgeoning relationship that had them starting out on unequal footing but as they found happiness they found inner strength that made their connection feel more equal. In the depiction of these two characters there was a bit of inequality too in that I felt we got a deeper understanding of Connor than John. The pain Connor went through touched me more deeply and had me aching for him to find himself after his life veered off course, while what John went through paled in comparison. The moment they met caught both of them off guard in a heartbreaking introduction. Moments of quiet talks and introspection led to scorching encounters that were the first step in Connor's healing as sex felt dirty to him at first. Readers can feel their pain and tension from the very start but as their relationship progressed their joy in being with each other shone through. Aiding them in finding their HEA was a colorful cast of secondary characters that ranged from childhood friends to the Grand Dame of the town, all of who supported these two men unconditionally. Along with these likable characters came the very unlikable and over-the-top stereotypical sheriff who did everything he could to malign Connor. The melodramatics of Steve's sister was also unwelcome and both characters felt unnecessary as there was enough drama in the story already. On a whole though I found this an uplifting tale that nicely balanced its scorching interludes with the emotional engagement of John and Connor dealing with their pasts. It's a solid series starter that has me intrigued to learn more about the denizens of this small town.
John once had his whole life planned out with Steve by his side until hard truths and death had John running from his disillusions. Hiding away in a small town while renovating a house holding its own ghosts soon changes his life irrevocably when he opens his front door to a man who leaves his feelings in disarray. John's a man of wealth who's content to live without ties to his new community as he doesn't want to risk his heart again. He's a bit stoic and serious-minded at the start but helping Connor brings out a softer side to him. Being with him has John finally going after what he wants, finally living life to the fullest in a burgeoning relationship that goes through some gut-wrenching changes to reach HEA.
Connor left town as its Golden Boy but the years since have been anything but golden as he fell on hard times. A college football injury led to addiction, and in desperation to keep numbing his pain, prostitution. Embarrassment, and time in jail, kept him from returning home when his mother died but now that he's back he plans to stay. Meeting John gives him a chance for redemption, by renovating his childhood home he hopes to find the less jaded pieces of his soul that he lost over the years. He's drawn to John but their relationship is weighed down by his past in the beginning. Working on the house, and finding a job with a friend's father, combine to give Connor's self-esteem a boost which strengthens his connection to John throughout the story and had me applauding him by the end of the story.
From the first page to the last this was a gut-wrenching story that dealt with hard-truths. John was betrayed by love while Connor was betrayed by life in this tale of opposites attracting. Together they found healing in their burgeoning relationship that had them starting out on unequal footing but as they found happiness they found inner strength that made their connection feel more equal. In the depiction of these two characters there was a bit of inequality too in that I felt we got a deeper understanding of Connor than John. The pain Connor went through touched me more deeply and had me aching for him to find himself after his life veered off course, while what John went through paled in comparison. The moment they met caught both of them off guard in a heartbreaking introduction. Moments of quiet talks and introspection led to scorching encounters that were the first step in Connor's healing as sex felt dirty to him at first. Readers can feel their pain and tension from the very start but as their relationship progressed their joy in being with each other shone through. Aiding them in finding their HEA was a colorful cast of secondary characters that ranged from childhood friends to the Grand Dame of the town, all of who supported these two men unconditionally. Along with these likable characters came the very unlikable and over-the-top stereotypical sheriff who did everything he could to malign Connor. The melodramatics of Steve's sister was also unwelcome and both characters felt unnecessary as there was enough drama in the story already. On a whole though I found this an uplifting tale that nicely balanced its scorching interludes with the emotional engagement of John and Connor dealing with their pasts. It's a solid series starter that has me intrigued to learn more about the denizens of this small town.
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Reviewers have called Samantha Kane "an absolute marvel to read," and "one of historical romance's most erotic and sensuous authors." Her books have been called "sinful," "sensuous," and "sizzling."
She is published in several romance genres including historical, contemporary and science fiction. Her erotic Regency-set historical romances have won awards, including Best Historical from RWA's erotic romance chapter Passionate Ink, and the Historical CAPA (best book) award from The Romance Studio.
Samantha Kane has a master's degree in American History, and taught high school social studies for ten years before becoming a full-time writer. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children. Ms Kane loves to hear from readers.
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Thank you for your insightful review, it was most helpful. I do enjoy reading romantic drama, with a ton of angst and complex characters working their way through their past and any hangups to find an eventual happy ending of sorts. Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Cherry Pie :)
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