Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: Sugar Season
SERIES: Maple Springs #3
AUTHOR: Spencer Spears
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 206 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 2nd, 2017
BLURB:
They say it’s better to have loved and lost. They have no idea what they’re talking about…
Police officer Graham Andersen already had his happy ending. A whirlwind romance, a young marriage, more happiness than he knew what to do with. And then it was over, almost as soon as it began.
After his husband Joey died, Graham knew he’d never find that kind of love again. But what he’d had with Joey was more than some people ever get in life. He’d had his chance at happiness. He couldn’t ask for more.
“Another night, another lifetime, and I would have said yes. But not tonight. Not anymore.”
When chef Ryan Gallagher is swindled out of his savings right before he can open his restaurant, it almost seems right. One more failure for his long list, one more way he’ll never measure up to his older brother. Joey might be gone, but he still finds a way to overshadow Ryan.
With no money and no prospects, Ryan has no choice but to move home to the family that rejected him and his sexuality. But when he goes out to the local bar one winter night, he never dreams the hot guy he’s hitting on used to be his brother’s husband.
“Please, can we just pretend this never happened? I had no idea who you were when I met you.”
Both men insist that they’re not interested. And yet neither can resist the desire they feel. But relationships require love, love requires risk, and both Graham and Ryan know this life offers no guarantees. After a long winter in both their hearts, are they finally ready for spring?
Sugar Season is a 70,000 word steamy, contemporary, forbidden-love m/m romance. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA.
REVIEW:
First I want to say huge KUDOS to the author of this story. I had no idea…not one that this was a part 3 in a series. It read like a true standalone and while it did weave other characters in and out of the main characters lives I never felt like I was missing something. Needless to say I was surprised when I looked on Amazon and saw this was a book 3, I only ever went to Goodreads prior to reading the story. So, readers keep in mind this is a standalone but part of a series.
With that said, this was pretty good and while I wasn’t blown away with the story I did like it. I found some parts dragged and the inner monologue went on and on at times. I also got quite frustrated with Graham and his whole inner turmoil thing. I just thought it was a bit too much but again I liked the story and the characters.
Widow Graham Andersen takes duty very seriously. Having lost his husband years prior he still feels obligated to visit his late husband’s parents every year. What starts out as an uneventful trip turns into a steamy hookup with a stranger in a bar.
As these things tend to go the stranger turns out to be the estranged younger brother of Graham’s deceased husband. And the chemistry that ignites between the two is palpable and undeniable no matter how badly Graham wants to ignore it.
The push/pull between Graham and Ryan is ever-present throughout the story. Graham has been celibate since he lost his husband in is still essentially mourning the loss. Believing his one chance at love has come and gone.
Quite a bit transpires to get these two at HFN but like I mentioned it was sweet with a little predictable mystery thrown in.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: