Crossroads

I LOVED THIS STORY! Why did I wait so long to read it? It's been on my TBR for freakin ever... The cover alone should have been my first clue... but anyway, I've read it and I'm really glad that I did. Also glad I was alone most of the day because shewww, Riley Hart knows how to write some man love... <wipes brow in rememberance> Nick is starting over... recently divorced after his wife cheated on him and left him for one of her affairs, he finds an apartment that shares a back yard and garage with his neighbor... His mom is really old fahsioned, she wanted him to move back home with her, but he stuck to his guns and wanted to make a life for himself, by himself. Nick also owns his own resturant aptly named Nick's. I thought that was a nice touch :) Bryce, all around good-time man, moves into the apartment next door to Nick. Bryce, who's best friends with his ex Christi and close with his family as well, has just gotten over being sick. He's enjoying life and enjoying living it. When he meets his new neighbor, they form a quick friendship. What starts off as a friendship trying to get Nick laid they realize they'd rather hang out with each other. They have fun together, they laugh which is something Bryce does a lot of and Nick needs to do a lot more of. They needed each other. There are problems though, one being, they're both straight....until they aren't... two, they both have extremely close families but Nick's mom won't shut up about finding a wife and settling down and Bryce's mom thinks he's in a relationship with Christi. I get the close family aspect and everything, I've always wanted my parents approval and I hate the thought of disappointing them. However, I think these two put too much weight into what their families think, more specifically, their mothers. They're both in their 30's and have careers and their own place. Why the need to live your life for your mother? I don't understand that. If my parents loved me like they should, it shouldn't matter who I fall in love with. I hated that it took Nick's mom so long to come around and I hated that his sister let her husband dictate wether or not she could be apart of his life. That isn't fair. Who is he to say what someone is doing is wrong.. if it isn't effecting you then how is it your business? I didn't like that. I did like the way the relationship progressed though, I liked how the sex progressed it felt really real to me, the problems they had with it and how they went about making things better or making things work for them. I know that when people read man on man love it's easy to forget everything and just enjoy it lol but the way things were handled and described, it was genuine and it didn't feel like a story. I love when stories are portrayed how people can relate to them. I'm a 30 year old heterosexual woman and even I could relate with a lot of things in this story. That's how realistic it was. Overall though, through the ups and downs and confusing times and meddling mothers and every hoop they had to jump through, it was nice to see them jumping through them together. Even when throwing in the towel would have been easier....They fought for each other and was there for each other. It was such a good story. I really really enjoyed it. It makes me hope for more about these two at some point. I'd love to see them get married and have the children the mothers kept badgering them to have lol that would be sweet. I'd definitely recommend this one to anyone, it was really really that awesome!

Rating: 4 Steam: 3 PoV: dual, 3rd person Genre: contemporary romance, MM Tropes / tags: friends to lovers, sexual discovery, It’s been a while since I read this for the first time, but I find myself going back to this book every now and then. Nick and Bryce always make me smile and their story is such a heartwarming read! Crossroad was a fantastic journey filled with friendship, self discovery, identity, love and family complications. Both Nick and Bryce thought they were straight, but spending more and more time together as neighbours and then friends, they start feeling more for each other. I loved how their relationship development was written and they way they handled being attracted to each other. The complexity of their characters was great and there was a depth to their story as well. While I totally adored Nick and Bryce, their families weren't as accepting of their relationship and caused a bit of drama. I found it really frustrating to see the way their families handled their relationship and feelings. It didn't help that Bryce wasn't honest with his family about his relationship with Christi, pretending to be together when they weren't, and I felt like that situation went on for a little too long. He had his reasons though, and I could see why he chose to handle it the way he did. Crossroads was a great double sexual discovery and I loved all the sweet, adorable and funny moments between Nick and Bryce! They had this instant, genuine connection to each other and they were just so sweet together. I loved to see all of their firsts and explorations in this one, and plenty of steamy scenes. Definitely one of my favourite Riley Hart reads so far!

This was the first book I read written by Riley Hart and it readily secured her on my list of must-read authors. It was also the first M/M book I read and turned me on to this genre. I actually re-read the book after a couple months before writing this review, and I have to admit, as much as I liked it the first time through, I appreciated it even more the second time. Plain and simple, I loved this book from start to finish. It was so well-written. It felt so realistic: both the characters and the story itself. Hart is a master at crafting well-developed characters who the reader can readily identify with as real people and quickly come to care about their story. Crossroads flows seamlessly and is easy to read and follow, and it continues to evolve at a natural pace with a realistic sequence of events. Even secondary characters are well developed and add substance and credibility to building the storyline. Hart does a brilliant job of portraying the emotions these characters experience as they gradually come to realize that their friendship is much more than a friendship – because, well, “we’re two straight men” and neither have ever looked at another guy “that way”. They approach navigating their relationship and exploring physical intimacy with maturity, patience, trust, natural curiosity and raw emotion, and they aren’t afraid of expressing their feelings to one another, even if approaching it with their families is something else entirely. Both are strong, smart characters, and they complemented one another to a T. Bryce and Nick instantly connected to one another under the guise of neighborly friendship, yet the reader was able to identify it as so much more than that: these two simply clicked and were one of those couples that simply belong together. I loved Bryce’s “no-filter” personality, Nick’s quiet strength and their genuine affection, trust and respect for one another, not to mention their emotionally layered and steamy sex scenes. There was little personal strife or angst between the two main characters (instead the angst dealt more with telling their families), which allowed the focus to be on the couple and the process by which they struggled and came to terms with figuring out their feelings for one another. Nick rolled his eyes. Damn, he loved his man. Just being around Bryce made him happy. Things weren’t perfect. They were still stumbling around in their relationship. But it was worth it. Bryce was worth it. This line from the epilogue sums up the entire book for me: “The destination wasn’t the point, the journey was.” And when all is said and done, isn’t that really what life is all about? Favorite part? What part wasn’t my favorite? Frankly, I could read it over and over and over again. I loved Bryce and Nick together. I loved their relationship, I loved their emotional struggles with themselves as they figured out what they were doing, the awkwardness of figuring out the in’s and out’s (no pun intended…maybe) of their physical relationship, and simply their respect, trust and genuine affection for one another. It was a true love story.

I am so glad I finally got to read this amazing GFY story. Riley Hart will leave you breathtaking in this beautiful tale of self discovery. I have been fortunate to have read all of Riley’s work and this one is her best work to date. Not only is this a GFY read but it is a risky tale as both MC’s are straight. I wasn’t sure how Ms. Riley was going to play this out but I was the one fooled for sure. The execution of this story was extraordinarily realistic and had me hooked in chapter one. Nick is newly divorced and doing his best to recover from the pain he is feeling after discovering his wife had cheated on him. Moving in to a duplex is not the best thing but it’s just enough for him as he tends to be dedicated to his restaurant anyway. Nick is very endearing and just a genuine nice guy. He doesn’t have much of a social life after the divorce. I loved Nick from the introduction. He totally just melted my heart. I loved the fact that although he is little softer when it comes with his heart, he is certainly no softy in the bedroom…LOL!! Bryce is the outgoing, magnetic person whom everyone just loves. He is recovering from a life scare and tends not to think before he just jumps. Bryce is the complete opposite of Nick really. However we all know what they say about opposites..LOL. Bryce just screams exuberance and confidence. I loved how he was “balls to wall” in everything he sets out to do. These two men become great friends fast and soon come to the realization that they are seriously attracted to one another. Watching these men discover each other sexually was perfectly written by Ms. Hart. From the simpilest kiss to deciding who is going to Top was fantastic. I laughed so much along their adventure into becoming “Gay”. While the story is about self acceptance and self discovery it does have some emotional angst in this one. I can tell you that I felt every bit of it throughout the story. Now I can certainly attest that this story is the sexiest one yet by Ms. Hart and I loved that she got so kinky in this one for sure. Bryce and Nick were off the charts HAWT!!!! I was panting for sure!! If you are looking for and eloquent, beautifully written GFY you read then Crossroads is the one for you. You won’t want to miss this one at all.

I’ll start by saying I really enjoyed the dynamic and relationship evolution of Bryce and Nick. I loved how they hit it off as friends right from the start and the rest grew from there. I also liked that they were more mature men so did not play games with each other once they were committed nor did they cheat. That’s not to say they didn’t have angst. This was a relatively angst filled romance, but all of their angst came from their family. I really loved how they stayed together and committed in the face of adversity from those they loved. Some may not find it believable that two straight men who never had an attraction to other men could fall so much in love and be so attracted to each other however, that was kind of what made the story so sweet. There was enough full doses of reality with regard to the way their families reacted to their relationship so I’m glad there wasn’t too much angst between them dealing with their feelings for each other. I will say it seemed obvious this was the author‘s first book. Because I’ve already read several of her latter books and there’s definitely a progression in her writing style. I found some sentences and paragraphs a bit hard to understand. Also, it wasn’t written in the first-party perspective of each main character like most M/M romance books that I’ve read so that took a little getting used to. I wasn’t crazy about the sex scenes. I realize neither had been with a man before, but they’re adult men. They should know certain things instinctively. Instead, they acted like they had absolutely no idea what to do with each other. Some insecurity with someone you really care about when you’re having physical intimacy can be cute and charming, but here felt like they were putting too much pressure on themselves and there was so much focus put on the discomfort and disappointment that it was hard to buy into the end result being the most mind blowing pleasure of their lives physically. Finally, there were too many unlikable character characters in the families. I understand not everyone has an easy coming out story with their family, but it felt like these families were not treating these men like the adults they are and I just couldn’t relate to them being their age and having such a difficult time dealing with their mothers. All that said, I loved their friendship and how they fell in love and I thought the side character of Christi was awesome.

My Review: Overall: 4.0 Performance: 3.25 Story: 4.25 This was a really interesting story just in that neither of these guys have ever considered other men as love interests before. I like straight guys turning and gay for you stories, but this one had the different twist in that neither guy was gay before they met the other. I'll admit I liked it in this particular story, but I'm not sure another author would be able to pull that off. But Riley Hart did it beautifully. And the way she did that was by building the friendship and bond between the two guys very slowly....that worked. I also thought the author did an amazing job showing the difficulty of this kind of sudden switch for two straight men very realistically. They have no idea what they are doing sexually and I liked that she made sure that wasn't smooth sailing for them. Also, their families are shocked by the changes in the men and not exactly open to all those changes. I loved the realism of that. But beyond all that is just the relationship between the two men. I liked them and the extremely upfront way they handled this change in sexuality. They're guys...they don't keep much inside, even when it's uncomfortable. And the two guys are very different. Nick is a chef who has only been with one person...his ex-wife who he met in high school. She was always it for him. Bryce builds motorcycles and has never really had a serious relationship except for with his bff. They became romantically involved after Bryce almost died, but I think that was more a reaction to that scare more than anything. Bryce is up for anything. Nick is much more cautious about things, but at their hearts...they're guys. Everything is more upfront and honest with guys especially when it comes to sex. I love audiobooks and wouldn't have read this book when I did without the audio version of the book, but I had one real beef with this narrator...I could not stand his women's voices. I'm dying to read the rest of the series and would love to listen to them on audio, too, but am just not sure I can handle the books if there is much in the way of females in the stories. Yes, it was just that grating to me. I thought he did a great job with the guys, but gah...the female voices ruined the audio for me. But I do plan to read the the next books in the series. I just have to find time to slide them into my reading schedule.

Wow, this story is amazing !!! With deep thought-filled characters, an interesting tale, and super hot sex, this story will be worthwhile for anyone. It is heartwarming, fresh, and fantastic. The book flows along with lots of funny scenes as they explore M/M sex and their new feelings. We have family drama, rejection, acceptance and understanding, along with emotional retrospective and the discovery of unconditional true love. This is a well written book by Riley Hart, and I'll read anything from her from now on. I L o v e d it !!! This story isn't about two gay men, it's a bout two men, Bryce, motorcycle mechanic and Nick, Chef and restaurant owner, who find each other and the romance builds slowly, the love grows slowly, and the feelings are bone deep. Two men who bond as friends and it develops into more as they connect further. I was enthralled by this tale and couldn't put it down. It's realistic, fun, witty, and makes us smile !! I highly recommend this beautiful story !! E N J O Y !!!

I know there’s a lot of controversy over the GFY trope in the MM genre, but I really loved this one. So, if GFY isn’t for you, skip this one. However, if you love a story with lots of self-discovery, families in turmoil, and LOTS of scorching hot sex, don’t skip by this beautifully written book. This is as well written as GFY gets, and it feels so real. Nick is a chef. He’s recently divorced from his wife, his childhood sweetheart. He’s never loved anyone else, never had sex with anyone else, and never cared for anyone else, so when she cheated on him and then presented him with divorce papers, Nick was devastated. He’s recently bought a new house with a shared backyard. Nick owns a restaurant that is becoming successful, and that takes up most of his time and energy. Until he meets the guy who moves in next door and shares the backyard. Bryce has bounced around a bit finding the right career for himself, until he discovered motorcycles and opened his own repair shop. He also works on bikes in his garage, and that’s where he and Nick actually meet. Bryce and Nick begin spending time with each other, getting to know one another, and find out they really enjoy each other’s company. Slowly, their friendship develops into something more, to their great surprise. Both men have large families, so adjusting to being in a gay relationship involves more people than just Bryce and Nick. There is a small amount of angst in the book, mostly around family love and acceptance. A few secrets pop up here and there and have to be dealt with. I listen to the audiobook while reading the ebook, which is my favorite way to enjoy books these days. Sean Crisden is one of the best audiobook narrators I’ve encountered, especially when there is a large cast of characters, men and women. He voices each person individually perfectly. This is a book and audiobook I highly recommend.

Uno dei miei preferiti di questa autrice! Ci sono un sacco di argomenti che amo in questo genere di romanzi: prima volta gay, da amici ad amanti... E passione, e sesso bollente, e sentimenti reali, teneri e potenti. Ma ciò che mi ha fatto amare di più questo libro è la costruzione graduale del rapporto tra Nick e Bryce: Riley Hart li dipinge e caratterizza perfettamente, facendoceli apparire reali, così come vere e realistiche sono le loro emozioni, reazioni e azioni. E la mancanza di drammi e grandi fraintendimenti mi ha fatto amare ancora di più questa storia: i due protagonisti hanno delle esitazioni, non si capiscono? Rimangono arrabbiati 15 minuti e poi si cercano, si parlano, ne vengono fuori. Una storia d'amore appassionata, coinvolgente, imperfetta ma destinata a scaldare i nostri cuori ad ogni rilettura. Straconsigliati anche gli altri romanzi dell stessa serie.

What an absolute perfect, wonderful read !! I love this story !!!!! There's such a natural progression of how his story unfolds it's an easy heartfelt read that will leave you with a wonderful glow at the end. I do enjoy a good M/M story and this was one of the best I've read. I found both lead characters enticing and very magnetic, they had a way of pulling you to them that you would love them to be real. The flow of this journey both men find themselves on was spot on, Riley Hart definitely created a perfectly timed story line. I didn't feel like it was rushed or lagging in anyway , I simply enjoyed the reading experience. This is a new author to me but it certainly won't be the last Riley Hart book I read :)

I loved every minuet of the book it was beautiful. Bryce and Nicks story starts with Bryce trying to help nick get over his ex wife so he takes him out hoping to help him find a woman to spend the night with but it gets complicated real quick when both straight when become attracted to each other there both new with being with a man and it is one hell of a beautiful romance between the two of them but they both have s*** they have to deal with. Anyone that loves a good mm book will love this one❤️

*posted review on Goodreads as well. I LOVED this book!! I've eye-balled this book for awhile and finally bit the bullet and ordered it late last night. I knew I probably shouldn't start reading but I was excited and did so anyway. Needless to say, I became totally engrossed in Nick and Bryce's story, and was up very, very late!! This is a GFY, friends to lovers story and it was done really well. The evolution of their attraction felt genuine and unrushed. Their struggles and surprise at finding themselves attracted to the same gender was believable. I really enjoyed how they communicated so well to resolve issues. (It's a great to see to characters who talk to each other...no miscommunication trope). The dialogue has a lot of sweet moments but didn't sound too sappy. And the overall pacing felt natural...no declarations of insta-love. There wasn't a huge amount of angst in the story; the struggles mostly involving family acceptance, and coming to terms with being in a same sex relationship for the first time. The MC chemistry was great and the sex and intimacy was fantastic. (hot!) I really liked both characters personalities. Bryce and Nick together, as more than friends, felt inevitable. Super sweet GFY love story.This is going on my favourites list!

This is the first book of a series written by Riley Hart and it’s about the romance between Bryce and Nick. The first one is a man that is used to jump from one thing to another, and never settling down for anything except for his love for bikes. Nick is just the opposite, he’s a man that is trying to figure things out on his own now that he’s divorced. He’s a chef in his own restaurant and one of the sweetest men ever. They meet because they’re neighbors who share the same backyard, and from the very first time they talk to each other, there’s a click. They start as friends who hang a lot and who don’t need to do fancy things in order to have fun on their own. Eventually, they become lovers, and it is one of the most beautiful things in the world. They complement each other, and they’re what the other needed in his life. Bryce is wild, and always acts before thinking, he jumps into things without a care, so that makes him a bit reckless. Still, Nick is there to catch him and to join him in his wild adventures, and since he’s always been protective of his loved ones, he shares his domestic life with Bryce. Now, they both think they’re straight, but eventually their chemistry wins over everything. They fit –they make the best out of each other. And most importantly: they feel real. Sure, they both had crazy families that had a hard time accepting that they were a couple, but I think that seeing the whole process of accepting oneself, and the whole families and friends too. I laughed a lot because Bryce is just way too crazy, and I love him, and he even reminded me a bit of myself. Nick always made me soft, since he is the type of guy that only wants a simple life, and to take care of others. He’s a great cook and if I’m being honest, they’re one of my favorite couples ever. I wish I had the words to explain how much I loved this book, seriously. Not only the narrator made a wonderful job, but the story by itself is one of those that made me sigh with love when I remember them. This is a true gem, and from the very beginning I couldn’t stop. The epilogue was perfect and there were some quotes that will always stay with me. I think that an M/M should have a healthy relationship like theirs and the fact that they had real struggles in it just made it perfect. Anyway, I encourage you to read this ASAP. I promise you this is one of those books that deserves all the love in the world!