Reviewed by Tammy

TITLE: One Step Further

SERIES: Sequel to Memories of the Heart

AUTHOR: Felice Stevens    

PUBLISHER: Self Pub                    

LENGTH: 202 pages

BLURB:

Alex Stern has it all; good looks, charm, a job he loves and everyone calls him a friend. He lives life to the fullest at a breakneck pace, in the city that never sleeps. But Alex is also a master pretender; not even his best friend sees the pain that Alex hides so well. Alex himself isn’t sure who he is or what he’s searching for, he only knows that he hasn’t found it yet.

As a veterinarian, Rafe Hazelton loves each animal that crosses his path; they don’t care if he stutters a bit or that he prefers men. Their love is unconditional, but his life is still empty; they can only give him so much. New friendships convince him it’s time to break the wall of loneliness he’s hidden behind since childhood and discover what he’s been missing.

Alex and Rafe forge a friendship that turns physical, and they both swear that the relationship will last only as long as the fun does. But when old heartaches come to light and secrets hidden for years are revealed, Alex and Rafe discover if they accept what’s in their hearts and take it one step further, the greatest reward is waiting for them in the end.

REVIEW:

Rafe Hazelton is a veterinarian who loves each animal that crosses his path, they don’t care if he stutters or prefers men. He discovered early on in life that their love is unconditional but his life is empty as animals can only give him so much. Rafe became so lonely about a year ago he went to home of a young man who rescued a young puppy tied to a trash can and actually asked him out on a date, of course he was too late but he did it!

Alex Stern has the lot, he has a job he loves, charm and everyone calls him a friend. While he lives life to the fullest at breakneck speed no-one not even his best friend knows the pain Alex carries with him. Alex is lost, he doesn’t know who he is or what he’s searching for he only knows he hasn’t found it yet. He knows that he’s tired of one-night-stands and people who don’t look any further than the facade he puts on.

Alex and Rafe met through their respective friends although Rafe didn’t even hit Alex’s radar until a year later they were at their best friend’s bachelor party and Rafe was being his usual quiet self. Alex saw Rafe for the first time for the incredibly good-looking, hot young man he was. Things don’t go exactly as planned because Rafe is so shy and quiet that Alex truly doesn’t know what to do to draw him out. When Alex discovers Rafe likes to run and has joined a new gym close to both of their jobs he decides it’s time he got in shape so he joins as well. They become friends first, then lovers but what blows Alex away is the fact that Rafe sees him, he sees his pain and won’t take any of lies. Things blow up when their friends come back from their honeymoon only to discover Rafe in bed with Alex. Alex’s best friend says some hurtful things to him and in the heat of the moment Alex lets out the fact that he had a brother but he’s dead.

When Alex gets a phone call from his father about his mother he has to decide if he really wants to see her or not, after all she hasn’t acknowledged his existence for fifteen years. He goes to be completely astounded when Rafe turns up and tells him he will always be there to support him. When Alex’s father attacks him Rafe stands up for him which blows Alex away! No-one has ever stood up for him before, then when his father turns his homophobic hatred onto Rafe that’s when Alex has his epiphany, he’s totally, madly in love with Rafe. Rafe helps Alex to heal the rift he has with his mother when it’s clear that she is ready to take back her life. She has spent the last fifteen years being sedated by her husband after Alex’s twin brother died of leukaemia.

It’s a long hard road to get back a semblance of family for both Rafe and Alex but they’re both incredibly lucky to have the love and support of not only each other but their best friends Micah and Josh (from Memories of the Heart). Alex’s mother also makes a concerted effort to mend the rift she unwittingly helped her husband to create and keep. You will need lots of tissues to get through this book. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to all m/m romance lovers.

RATING:

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