A modern day twist on the fake marriage theme is what readers will find in this charming m/m romance that touches on serious issues to invest readers even more in one couple’s journey to HEA. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Operation Green Card by G.B. Gordon, along with my impressions of it, then discover even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this twenty-first installment in the Bluewater Bay series make sure to leave a comment below for the chance to win a $10 Riptide Publishing GC too!
Arkady Izmaylov is a family man. He’s also gay. In Russia. His sister Natalya has been telling him to get out for years, but it’s only after an attack in the street that he finally concedes and says yes to her desperate plan of him marrying a stranger for a green card.
Jason Cooley was taught from birth that he’s no good to anyone. Then the military taught him he was good enough to save other lives, but that purpose got amputated along with his leg. He’s now working security at Wolf’s Landing and sending monthly checks to his ex for their daughter’s education. When Natalya asks him to marry her brother, Jason knows right away he’ll do it more for the mission than the money she’s offering. But when he actually meets Arkady, his mission turns complicated.
Jason quickly discovers he’s not as straight as he thought. He’s also the man of Arkady’s dreams. Arkady must convince Jason that he’s worth loving, and that Arkady won’t disappear from his life like everyone else. Because Arkady has always wanted a family of his own, and he’s not letting go of this one.
Jason Cooley was taught from birth that he’s no good to anyone. Then the military taught him he was good enough to save other lives, but that purpose got amputated along with his leg. He’s now working security at Wolf’s Landing and sending monthly checks to his ex for their daughter’s education. When Natalya asks him to marry her brother, Jason knows right away he’ll do it more for the mission than the money she’s offering. But when he actually meets Arkady, his mission turns complicated.
Jason quickly discovers he’s not as straight as he thought. He’s also the man of Arkady’s dreams. Arkady must convince Jason that he’s worth loving, and that Arkady won’t disappear from his life like everyone else. Because Arkady has always wanted a family of his own, and he’s not letting go of this one.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLUEWATER BAY SERIES:
Welcome to Bluewater Bay! This quiet little logging town on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula has been stagnating for decades, on the verge of ghost town status. Until a television crew moves in to film Wolf’s Landing, a soon-to-be cult hit based on the wildly successful shifter novels penned by local author Hunter Easton.
Wolf’s Landing’s success spawns everything from merchandise to movie talks, and Bluewater Bay explodes into a mecca for fans and tourists alike. The locals still aren’t quite sure what to make of all this—the town is rejuvenated, but at what cost? And the Hollywood-based production crew is out of their element in this small, mossy seaside locale. Needless to say, sparks fly.
This collaborative story world is brought to you by eleven award-winning, best-selling LGBTQ romance authors: L.A. Witt, L.B. Gregg, Z.A. Maxfield, Heidi Belleau, Rachel Haimowitz, Anne Tenino, Amy Lane, SE Jakes, G.B. Gordon, Jaime Samms and Ally Blue. Each contemporary novel stands alone, but all are built around the town and the people of Bluewater Bay and the Wolf’s Landing media empire.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
From the first page to the last readers will find this a charming and quick read of insta-love that deals with heavy issues of homophobia and the dangers of living life as a homosexual. It’s a story of unexpected love too in this romance based on a lie with a modern spin on the theme of fake marriages.
Jason Cooley once had a career he loved in the military. Being a soldier defined him and gave him worth. With the loss of his leg though he’s left feeling lost and bitter. The only bright spot he now sees is his daughter and wanting to make life better for her becomes a driving force in making his own life better. To do that he needs more money which makes the idea of marrying a stranger desirous. While the money is helpful, it’s the unexpected emotional connection to another person who’s gone through something traumatic that becomes vital and ultimately leads to HEA. Jason’s a quiet character, readers don’t get deep insight into him other than through his inner dialogues and the perceptions of other characters. I wish more time had been spent getting to know him, but even with that bare bones knowledge I still found myself rooting for him.
Arkady Izmaylov’s life is tough as a homosexual man in Russia under a regime where living your life openly means death. His fears are palpable and it had me aching for him as he’s a good man caught in a terrifying situation. With that danger getting ever closer he’s left with no choice but to leave his homeland. Though he doesn’t expect much when he meets Jason, it’s clear that they have a connection. They’ve both experienced pain and loss and it’s caused them to withdraw but with each other they’re combustible. Like Jason, Arkady’s far from an open book. Though he was a bit more socialable, I still didn’t feel a deep connection to him and wish more time had been invested in his character. I wish too that his transition to becoming Americanized had been depicted as it never seemed to be an issue and would’ve added authenticity to the story. Even without that, I still liked Arkady for the strength he gave to Jason when he needed it most.
This was a nice addition to the Bluewater Bay series and is a quick read that provides a bit of afternoon delight. The premise is appealing and had a good balance of drama and romance. I enjoyed seeing previous characters and these interactions gave a familial and heartwarming vibe that’s part of the reason why we read this series. While I liked the main characters I wish we’d gotten deeper insight into them as I feel we merely scratched the surface. Despite that small quibble this was still a pleasant journey to the place that keeps calling me back and it will be a sad day when this series ends.
My rating for this is a B-/C+
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
G.B.Gordon worked as a packer, landscaper, waiter, and coach before going back to school to major in linguistics and, at 35, switch to less backbreaking monetary pursuits like translating, editing, and writing.
Having lived in various parts of the world, Gordon is now happily ensconced in suburban Ontario with the best of all husbands.
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Thanks for the review!
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the book =)
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Congrats, G.B., and thanks for the good review. With the mix of a Russian, amputee, ready-made family, and gay-for-you, this sounds like a great addition to a wonderful collaborative series. - Purple Reader,
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Many thanks for following the tour, and thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!
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