Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Jumpstart 

SERIES: Crossroads #3.5 

AUTHOR: Riley Hart 

PUBLISHER: Self-Published 

LENGTH: 97 pages 

RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2016 

BLURB: 

Motocross star, Beckett Monroe, is in need of some serious R&R. Not only to adjust to his new out-of-the-closet status, but in hopes of reigniting his passion for motocross. To his surprise, support shows up in the way of Christian Foster, his childhood best friend and first love. Spending time with Christian is the jumpstart Beck’s heart needs. But even if Christian can forgive Beckett for hurting him years ago, do they stand a chance against all the obstacles in their path?

A Crossroads Novella. 

REVIEW:

As many of you will remember, Crossroads was the book that I cut my teeth on as a reviewer. I was so excited to get to visit my boys again. Riley Hart is a go-to author for me and she never disappoints.

At the very end of “Test Drive” Landon gets a phone call from an old friend, Supercross champion, Beckett Monroe. Beckett needs a place to come and get away. Beckett is back in the news but not for his fame as a motocross champion. He has just been “outed” to the media. But the media has even got that wrong. He’s not gay, he’s bi-sexual. Now he needs a place to relax and reflect without being hounded by the media. He is also thinking back to his biggest mistake. A mistake that caused the loss of his oldest and best friend since childhood. A mistake that inadvertently outed his best friend but kept his well-hidden secret, his true sexually. Jumpstart is the reacquainting of old friends with a huge hurt hanging over them. Can Beckett finally make things right and forge a friendship with the one that he turned his back on?

Beckett had always loved motocross and dirt bikes since he was a very young boy. And he was an extremely talented rider. It was an expensive talent that his parents recognized and supported, at the expense to themselves. They were a dirt-poor family from the south but they sacrificed everything for their son. He could never disappoint his parents so he kept the real him locked away deep in the closet. The only person who knew was his childhood friend Christian. A true friend, who took the fall for him even though it meant outing himself. A friend that Beckett turned his back on ten years ago. The biggest mistake he ever made and he had to apologize. One phone call and Christian is on a plane to see Beckett. Because true love never really dies, it just gets buried deep away.

Christian and Beckett tugged deep at my heart strings. As youngsters, they had always been the best of friends. It seemed, at times, at Christian’s expense. They rode dirt bikes, because that was Beckett’s passion. Christian took what ever it was Beckett gave him, sometimes at his own expense. He was even willing to be Beckett’s little secret if he wanted it. But Beckett cut all ties to become a super star. Beckett may have appeared selfish but in truth, he sacrificed everything to make up for all his parents sacrifices and hard work. He was a good son who was losing his “flame” to keep up appearances. He finally broke and couldn’t keep up the facade anymore.

Although we got to see the old gang, it was in extremely limited snippets. There was only one thing that was disappointing. The epilogue dropped a “bomb” on us that I would hope is another book in the works. Bryce and Nick deserve their happily ever after and I hope we will get that in their own follow-up book.

The “Crossroads” series is an series I re-visit from time to time when I need a smile and a pick-me-up to warm my heart. “Jumpstart” is a fantastic addition to one of my most favorite series. Warning: this is a quick read novella, not one of the authors more well rounded novels. A must read about second chance love.

RATING:  

BUY LINK: 

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