Reviewed by JustJen
Title: Pretend
Author: Riley Hart
Series: Blackcreek #3
Heroes: Mason Alexander/Gavin Davis
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 207 Pages
Publisher: Riley Hart
Release Date: December 29, 2014
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Mason Alexander thought all he wanted in life was something to call his own—something without the family name attached. He got that when he bought his bar in Blackcreek…but then a hard truth opens his eyes that he’s been lied to his whole life, and he’s tangled amid the family that loves him, a truth that haunts him, and torn between the life he wants for himself and the obligation he feels for his family.
Gavin Davis knows a thing or two about living a double life. Being a gay man with strict Christian parents who believe he’s going to Hell, has never been easy. Instead of dealing, Gavin lost himself in his career. Teaching music gives him solace. So when he loses his job at a private school for helping out a gay kid, he feels like he lost more than a job. He lost his identity.
Blackcreek is a new start for both of them, two men, loyal to a fault, who both feel obligated to people in their lives. What Mason and Gavin don’t expect to find in each other is the place where they can be real. They know they want each other, it’s the rest of it they can’t figure out. Caught between loyalty, obligation, fear, tragedy and family, Mason and Gavin’s lives threaten to pull them away from each other if they don’t get real, and stop playing pretend, for good.
Review: Family drama abounds in this segment.
We met the sexy bartender, Mason, in the previous book, and I was really looking forward to his story. He’s a great guy, living his dream of owning and operating his own bar. But, there’s more to his story. He is supposed to have taken over his family’s fancy restaurants, yet he has no desire to do so. Mason’s got a great family, but he also has issues with something they withheld from him.
Gavin is Braden’s friend and ex from way back. He’s a super nice guy who has gotten a few raw deals. First, his family has issues with his being gay, so they just pretend he isn’t. Then, he is forced to leave his teaching job after helping a young guy student. So, he is a bit lost when he meets Mason, who offers him a bartending job while he figures out a plan.
These guys keep things pretty low key for the most part, neither really looking for anything serious at the moment. It works for them, and their feelings grow as they explore each other. They were sweet and funny and sexy, and they had a lot of really hot smexy sex. Mason is quite bossy in the bedroom, which I loved. Gavin’s got a pretty amazing tongue and puts those skills to use with lots of rimming. One of my favorite things about this story was how Mason would always say things to Gavin like “Gavin, I think this is one of those times you kiss me.”
We also get to see the guys from the previous books a bit, which is always nice. I was a bit unsure about Mason’s long-time friend and jealous ex, Isaac. He is a big part of the family and plays a big role in their restaurant business. For the most part, I was not a fan, but he had his moments, and I have a feeling his story might be coming soon.
So, this story didn’t wow me, nor did I enjoy it quite as much as the previous one. But it was still quite enjoyable while covering some different issues. These guys go through quite a bit, mostly on their own, before getting their HEA. In typical Riley Hart fashion, this story offers a little bit of everything, from moments of sadness to heartwarming scenes and a few in between, keeping Ms. Hart on my auto-read list.
Overall Impression: I liked it
*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*
The Blogger Girls 