Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: Bachelors Party

SERIES: A Brandt & Donnelly Caper: Case File Five

AUTHOR: Xavier Mayne

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 280 Pages

BLURB:

A Brandt and Donnelly Caper: Case File Five
Med student Oliver Mitchell has discovered a way to make more tips as a bartender—put on ripped workout gear and serve drinks at the hip new gay club, Burn. The only catch is Oliver is straight. The staff and patrons don’t mind, though, and Oliver fits in well—until he meets James Buchanan Whitford, a local politician with a secret: he’s married. When James’s scheming wife attempts to catch him in flagrante with Oliver, they flee the city for the refuge of James’s cabin in the woods. There, Oliver faces a new challenge—he’s starting to feel more for James than friendship. Their new relationship must survive political intrigue and small-town politics before they can be together.

With their wedding two months away, it’s time for Troopers Ethan Brandt and Gabriel Donnelly to have a bachelor party. Ethan’s older brothers are excited, but Ethan is not. As a straight guy who fell in love with another man, the whole ritual is fraught with complications, and he struggles to reconcile newly granted marriage equality with old traditions. Brandt and Donnelly work to help James and Oliver find their way to happiness while pulling off the bachelor party of the year.

REVIEW:

So, these stories just seem to get better and better. I didn’t even read the blurb for the novel, I just saw it was a Brandt & Donnelly story and I requested the book. I’m so damn glad that I did, I love these characters and I enjoy when they are involved in some stuff going down.

Brandt & Donnelly are doing the bachelor party thing and as you know, Brandt is still having issues regarding defining his sexuality. How if he wasn’t in love with Donnelly, he’d still be straight and dating women. He’s wondering how to deal with having a bachelor party. Where do you go if you have some straight guys as well as some gay guys? How do you make sure that everyone has a good time?

Oliver and James’ story….now that one…what do you do when your whole life changes and it’s truly not what you were expecting?

Oliver is going to med school as the town got together to pay for his schooling and all he has to do is pay for his apartment, food, etc. Oliver worked for his family’s B & B growing up. He’s now working as a bartender at a popular steakhouse as well as a coffee shop. Working at Burn will help him be able to give up the two jobs and to be able to study and do his internship. Oliver is nervous because Burn is a gay club and he’s not gay. However, once he gets there and gets over his shyness, it’s game on!! Oliver starts making some serious money. Oliver meets this great guy, James who seems so damn sad and yet, is such a nice guy and he can’t help but enjoy Sunday nights when he comes in. Oliver’s life is about to take a couple of turns that he never even thought about. The question is…can Oliver find the happiness that he grab with his hands and can he overcome James’s wife’s vengeance?

James…were do you start? James is a really nice guy who finds himself in a situation that is of his own making and yet, he’s trying to get himself free or is he? James comes from money and he inherited a bunch when his parents were killed. He went into politics and married this really bitchy woman, Stella who is very ambitious and quite ruthless about getting what she wants. James has known he was gay since he was young and yet, he’s hidden that part of himself. James goes to Burn and meets this really nice bartender with whom he can actually converse with. They never get bored with each other and they can just talk. It’s nice and really kinda sweet.

Now, I was really happy that these two guys had the chance to really spend some time away from work and school and politics and get to know each other. I liked that once Oliver made up his mind regarding James and the nature of their relationship, he was all in. I liked seeing the growth of both Oliver and James. They each had to face their fears as well as make the decision to be happy and then do what it took in order to accomplish it. I liked that Oliver was cute and clueless about his sexuality and it was really wonderful to see these two men who are lonely as well as not very experienced come together.

I like seeing Brandt and Donnelly. I liked seeing the progression of their relationship and the growth that they are making, especially Brandt.   He is still having some issues regarding his sexuality, as mentioned above, however, I really enjoy the fact that even with that issue, he knows without a shadow of a doubt that he still loves Donnelly and he wants to spend his life with him. I Love It!!

So, we got to meet Liam and Noah, Brandt’s older brothers and they were a hoot!! I loved seeing how they love their baby brother and support him. I love that they are doing this bachelor party for them. Bryce and Nestor made a couple appearances and of course, we had some good laughs. I swear, Bryce makes me laugh out loud and Nestor adding in his two cents…good times!!

This was such a wonderful installment in the Brandt & Donnelly Capers and I can’t wait for the next adventure!! I like how as each caper has our guys in it, yet…they aren’t the main characters. They are there and living their lives, however, you are able to see them and have them meet and help our new characters.

Overall, this is a great book and a great addition to the series. This is a great story that will draw you in and hook you until the very end!! Can’t wait for the next book!!!

RATING:

BUY LINKS:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

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