Reviewed by Susan65
Title: Knave of Broken Hearts
Author: Tara Lain
Series: Love in Laguna #2
Heroes: Jim Carney/Ken Tanaka
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 224 Pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: August 3, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Jim Carney has a full time job—running from himself. Since he walked out on his wealthy family at sixteen because he’d wrecked his best friend’s life over some yaoi graphic novels, Jim has lived a macho, blue-collar existence of too much booze and too little responsibility. Then Billy Ballew, the man Jim most admires, gives Jim a chance to come through as his construction supervisor. For once, Jim is determined to make someone proud. Then Jim goes in for a physical for his new job and his yaoi dream comes to life in the form of cardiologist Ken Tanaka. Jim discovers he has two heart problems—a wonky mitral valve and a serious attraction to his doctor. But Ken is a major player, and Jim might be just a notch on the doc’s stethoscope. To Ken, Jim is unforgettable—but the living embodiment of his traditional family’s worst nightmares.
How come the minute Jim decides to be responsible, he finds himself taking care of his kid brother, getting a proposal from a wealthy woman, making a deal with the devil, and winding up in the hospital—when all he really wants is the Knave of Broken Hearts?
Review: Book two in the Love in Laguna series and we have another great story by Tara Lain. Jim and Kenji are so different from each other, in so many ways, but are also so much alike in that neither feels in control of their own lives.
Jim is a construction supervisor and Ken is a cardiologist. Ken is also the son of traditional Japanese parents, and as such, is pressured to fulfill his duty to marry and produce a child for his meddling mother. Jim is pressured in other ways. He wants nothing more than help his friend, his boss, Billy (from book one) to become successful. Even if he has to smooze with the building owner on the construction project that’s being done. Unfortunately, it’s during this time that Constance starts hitting on him heavily, just as he is beginning to accept the fact that he might be gay, and providing a home for his kid brother…all with a bad heart. He is told to reduce stress, but seriously, how is that even possible?
There is a lot going on for each of these guys, so it takes a while for them to actually get together. The lack of communication is the least of their problems as both are pretty vocal and honest. But what happens when what is said contradicts with actions?
Knave of Broken Hearts is a fast read, and one that hits on many hard topics, but it’s as full of love and acceptance as it was with homophobia and injustices. Be prepared to deal with many issues, and wait until the end for our guys to get it right, but they are perfect for each other and it was worth the wait.
Overall Impression: I really liked it
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
The Blogger Girls 