Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Lies & Diamonds & Bears (Love, Vegas Style Book 2)
SERIES: Love, Vegas Style
AUTHOR: Ethan Stone
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 68 pages
BLURB:
Sometimes you do get a second chance at first love
Diamond magnate Sly Carson is headed to the Hotel Incognito, the premier resort for gay men in Las Vegas. He plans to take advantage of the time away from his homophobic father and have as much fun as possible. But the fun ends when he bumps into his old flame, Rory Klein.
Rory’s job working at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center has left him emotionally drained. A few days away was supposed to relax him, but there’s nothing relaxing about facing the man who broke his heart in college.
Twenty years have passed, but time doesn’t necessarily heal all wounds. This weekend could be their last chance to make things right, but a confession from Sly could ruin everything.
REVIEW:
I was asked if I could do this review and I jumped at it. It combined several of my favorite elements for a good read. First and foremost, I am a sucker for second-chance love stories! “The one that got away” is a theme that I love, especially when it is a totally random situation where the two former loves are thrust back together in an awkward situation. I love watching them squirm when they realize that it really is their former “love of their life”! The best is when they never really stopped loving each other but a situation or misunderstanding drove them apart. That two men won’t state what they are feeling or thinking makes for a fun read.
Mr. Stone’s story combined all my favorites into a warm and fun story. I immediately was taken with Rory Klein and wanted good things to go his way. He just needed a break to relax and have some fun! A basically shy man that didn’t see how wonderful and handsome he was. Enter his college lover, Sly Carson, the one that got away, and you have the perfect mix for angst and great make-up sex! Add in one very sexy Personal Assistant, and a flirty Front Desk staff member and you have a whooping good read!!! Of course no really good second chance love story would be complete without a villain! Sly’s dad filled that role perfectly! I have to say, I never saw the twist coming! It was one of those heart string tugging aww moments!!! I fell in love with Sly after that! Great HEA just like it needs to be! I am really hoping the next in the series will be Blaine and Devon’s story. I thought that they made great supporting characters and then we should get a glimpse of Rory and Sly again.
What topped it all off was too discover that the author is a fellow Oregonian! I love when I get to support my fellow statesmen. As you have probably guessed, I really loved this quick little romance. I know that some people would argue that this is erotica, and they would be correct in that it has some really steamy sex, but that isn’t the whole story. It isn’t just gratuitous sex scenes but the sex is a necessary part in the building of the the story. Watching these two men work through their past was intriguing and wonderful. A huge thumbs up for my first encounter with the author and I can safely say it won’t be my last. Can’t wait until the next in the series is released!
BUY LINKS:
Thanks for the review. And thrilled to learn you’re an Oregonian.