Reviewed by Dan & Taylor

TITLE: The Boyfriend Mandate (The Boyfriend Chronicles #2)

SERIES:  The Boyfriend Chronicles

AUTHOR: River Jaymes     

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 284 Pages

BLURB:

Stuntman and two-time cancer survivor Memphis Haines excels at beating the odds. When he’s presented with the opportunity to help his ex-boyfriend with a charity event, he jumps at the chance to make up for the devastating way he left Tyler ten years ago. Memphis might have taken the college geek’s virginity, but the former mathelete is now a hell of a head turner. And Dr. Tyler Hall’s cool reserve is a challenge Memphis can’t resist. A self-confessed rule breaker and line crosser, he’ll keep turning up the heat with a single goal in mind: to melt the man’s composure. Tyler Hall sticks to one simple mandate: no more dating ex-boyfriends. Ever. He certainly isn’t interested in hooking up with Memphis Haines, the ex who jumps off buildings, dodges explosions, and poses for designer underwear ads. Ten years ago, falling for Memphis changed Tyler’s life. The man’s abrupt departure turned his world inside out. But he moved on long ago. Besides, he has a clinic for the homeless to run, patients to take care of, and no time to deal with the trouble his ex brings. Memphis, however, seems determined to rehash the past. And his boxer-dropping grin, hard body, and confident charm are resurrecting ultra-hot memories best not remembered, making Tyler’s rule harder and harder to keep… CONTENT WARNING: This book contains Man-on-Man action, adult situations and *ahem* language.

Dan’s REVIEW:

The Boyfriend Mandate picks up shortly after the events portrayed in River Jaymes’ previous book, The Backup Boyfriend. In book two, the focus moves to Alec’s ex-boyfriend and business partner, Dr. Tyler Michael Hall.

A tabloid has just printed a cover article about Tyler’s other ex-boyfriend, the famous stuntman and underwear model, Memphis Haines. 10 years ago Tyler came home to find Memphis had packed his stuff and left with no note and no explanation. He hasn’t seen him since. A recent picture of Tyler is on that tabloid cover, along with an article questioning Memphis Haines’ sexual orientation. It seems that after being with Tyler in college, Memphis then married a woman and stayed married for five years. The public demands to know what is up! Already that morning Tyler had been asked by one person if sex with him turned Memphis straight, and by another person if he can get Memphis to sign his underwear! Tyler marches onto the set where a photo shoot is being done for Memphis’ underwear contract and the two meet again after a 10 year hiatus. That reunion is surprisingly non-hostile, and that is good thing since Memphis is already scheduled to help with a fundraiser for the clinic that Tyler and Alec run.

Soon a close call on a stunt set and a possible concussion leads Tyler to take Memphis back to his friend Noah’s condo. Tyler has been staying there since the tabloid article came out and the resulting paparazzi crowd starting hanging out at Tyler’s front door. Memphis refuses to go to a hospital for a CT Scan because he has had two bouts with testicular cancer, the second one of which he technically died from for about a minute and a half. He has been down the road of radiation and chemotherapy repeatedly and has now developed a phobia about hospitals and doesn’t ever want to go in one again.

Memphis has a lot of anxiety and dread related to his cancer, which carries over into his personal interactions throughout this book. At times, he borders on unlikeable. But Tyler starts to realize he might still have feelings for Memphis. When sparks fly and he and Tyler have crazy hot monkey sex in an elevator at Noah’s building it starts a chain reaction which leads to the breaking down of some walls, and some honest confessions from both sides.

As mentioned, the sex was hot, particularly in the elevator where it involved someone being tied to the rail with a necktie. I found a lot of humor in the sarcastic comments from multiple characters, and just overall enjoyed reading the book. The characters are well written, as I have come to expect from this author, and the storyline was well developed.

I highly recommend the book, which could be read as a standalone, but I’d recommend you start with book one, because they are both excellent. A note on characters. Some might find Memphis a little too annoying at times and feel his angst is over the top, but for me personally as someone with terminal cancer myself, this book did a great job portraying a multi-time survivor of a potentially deadly cancer and the angst he has against further treatment. I truly understood his hesitation to seek treatment, as will anyone who has ever had or been closely affected by cancer. Great job. Can’t wait for book three!

DAN’S RATING:

Taylor’s REVIEW:

Sigh. So it pains me to write that I didn’t like this book, and that I was disappointed based on my love for the previous book in the series, but that’s the truth. I’m not sure how it happened as reunited lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I love bisexual characters. I love arrogant MCs. I love hot sex (duh). However, all of these aspects separately or combined couldn’t overcome unlikable MCs, repetitive writing, and a plot/love story I just couldn’t get enthused by.

Memphis is a two-time cancer survivor who proposes a tit for tat situation to his ex-boyfriend, Tyler, and in doing so the two fight, fuck, manipulate, and fall in love. I was probably one of the few who didn’t hate Tyler in the first book, The Backup Boyfriend. Gahhhh, there is hardly anything better than a cold, reserved man showing vulnerability, showing passion when he finally breaks, ESPECIALLY when it’s a hot, arrogant man to do so. COME ON!!! This had all the components.

So why didn’t it work?

For me, I was incredibly distracted by the repetitive phrasing the characters used such as: Jesus Haploid Christ or Christ Almighty. Over and over and over. It got to the point I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe the author thought it was their “thing”, but it grated on my nerves.

The main issue, however, and it’s huge is that I despised Memphis. And I mean DESPISED. I know people often say reading something makes them want to vomit, but he says something and I literally for the first time in my life, while reading, had bile come up. I almost actually got sick because of something a character said. Everyone might tell a white lie here or there. Everyone might persuade someone unintentionally to get something. But when a character flat out says he’s going to manipulate someone and prey on their kindness and sympathy just so he can get fucked? When a character decides to reveal hurtful things about the other character as to why he left or how he viewed him as a boyfriend or hell, even why he fucked him so much, just to clear the air? I can’t. I just can’t. At one point it felt like maybe Memphis was thinking to himself he was going to use his cancer to get things he wanted and he was telling himself that because he’d never really dealt with his illness, and he was scared and angry and lonely, that he felt he not only earned it, but he needed Tyler and Tyler’s affection. Even then, knowing what he knew about his health, and how he was using his illness to his “advantage”, I still felt he was jerking Tyler around for his own selfish reasons. So I honestly don’t know how to feel. Maybe I’m not giving Memphis enough credit, but I don’t like it one bit.

Then there’s Tyler. I’m trying to honestly imagine this man dating Alec from the previous book, and how did that happen??? It’s bizarre to me. I can’t see him with Alec or Memphis, and the version of him from book 1 to book 2 doesn’t fit in my head. He had some good moments, especially with Dylan, but I was expecting a different Tyler than the one I got.

That’s not to say it was all bad. The elevator scene was riiiii.DICK.ulously hot. I loved Dylan and Alec’s side story and the concerns Dylan had felt real and genuine. The moments where Memphis wasn’t being a giant douchenozzle were both steamy and sweet with Tyler.

However, your mileage may vary. Plenty of other reviewers have not felt the same as I, but unfortunately, this was just OK to me.

TAYLOR’S RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon

Amazon UK