Reviewed by Elizabetta

TITLE: There’s Something About Ari

SERIES: Bluewater Bay, book 2

AUTHOR: LB Gregg

PUBLISHER: Riptide Publishing

LENGTH: 95 pages

BLURB:  

Buck Ellis’s future seems pretty damn bright. With a full college scholarship in hand, he’s going to ditch Bluewater Bay and pave the way for his kid brother Charlie to do the same. The only fly in Buck’s ointment is his ten-year addiction to his best friend since second grade, his true love, and his Achilles heel: Ari Valentine, Mr. Least Likely to Succeed.

But then Buck’s mother dies, changing everything, and five years later, his future is still on hold. It’s a struggle to keep food on the table, a roof over their heads, and Charlie on the straight and narrow. Buck can’t afford any temptation, especially in the form of the newly returned, super hot, super confident, super successful television star Ari Valentine.

ADHD poster-child Ari Valentine left for Hollywood and lost everything, including his bad reputation. Then the breakthrough role of his skyrocketing career lands him back in Bluewater Bay, to the stunned disbelief of, well, everyone. But there’s only one person Ari longs to impress—the only person who ever really mattered to him, the person he left behind: Buck Ellis.

REVIEW: 

Several authors are contributing stand-alone stories to this Riptide Pub series, Bluewater Bay, based in the rainy Washington state coastal town of the same name. A popular TV action show– think Teen Wolf— is filming in the colorful town, importing lots of drama in more ways than one.

There’s Something About Ari… 

This author has a way of wrapping you up in her characters. Nothing fancy or earth-shattering. But, there’s something about how the boys and the place are merged to draw you in. There’s something about two men you just know belong together… if only they can figure it out, too.

LB Gregg explores the ‘you can’t go home again’ theme here. Ari Valentine, town bad-boy and ‘most likely to go nowhere’, turned the tables and left five years ago without a backward glance. He’s back in Bluewater Bay, much changed. But he discovers that home is never the same.

Buck Ellis was left behind, those five long years ago. He and Ari were teens and inseparable BFFs. And Buck had just lost his mother, was left orphaned with a younger sibling to care for. When Ari split, Buck was terribly hurt and left with a huge unrequited crush for his best friend. Buck is still feeling that hurt. 

Buck, voted ‘most likely to go somewhere’, is still stuck in his hometown, slinging coffee for a living. His full-ride college scholarship is left dusty because of those family obligations– he would always be there for his younger brother. Buck had dreams of becoming a writer, hasn’t given that up completely; he still continues to put his thoughts to paper.

And here comes Ari, now a famous TV star, shooting his famous TV show, and renovating and moving into the house next door. Movie-star handsome, Ari is no longer the skinny, ADD kid of Buck’s memories. When you think of Ari, picture Jon Snow of Game of Thrones fame. Haawwwwwt. Nesssssss. Buck’s not so dormant big crush threatens to erupt into something more. Ahem.

Can Ari, just like that, come waltzing back into town, hot-shot Hollywood-style, back into Buck’s life? The throw-away bad-boy, now prodigal son, seems to have it all. But does he?

I love the setup. The squashed-down feelz that keep leaking out as these two circle around each other, looking for a way back in. I like how when they talk, in the beginning, it’s like they’re having two different convos… because Buck has feelings he hasn’t divulged, and Ari has a few secrets of his own. 

There is longing…  

“… I’d died small deaths every time he looked at me… He made me cold. He made me hot. Sweaty. Sick. Happy. Sad. Horny. Ashamed… The whole fucking enchilada. Squared.”

… and hurt and anger and lovely, fulminating horndog melting-ness. There is a little snark, a little grumpiness, and a lot of funny… 

“Did I need something? Jesus Christ, yes. I needed air. Suddenly, I needed O2 stat and I wanted him to deliver it via mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”  

While I think the story ends well, it feels like there’s still more for Buck and those dreams he’s put on the shelf. I hope we get to re-visit these two in or out of Bluewater Bay. 

This is sweet, feel-good storytelling to curl up with. The holidays are coming and I’d also recommend LB Gregg’s, Mistletoe at Midnight, another story that combines smexy men in a lovely setting. 

RATING:  

BUY LINKS: 

Riptide Publishing

Amazon