Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Second Chances
SERIES: Matchmaker #1
AUTHOR: G.R. Lyons
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 326 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2016
BLURB:
***Also available as part of Matchmakers: A Shifting Isles Trilogy (ISBN 978-1534740860)***
Nineteen-year-old porn star Remy Dawes loves his job at Matchmakers, a gay nightclub, but the fantasy he portrays every night doesn’t leave room for what he really wants: companionship, love, someone to come home to, someone just for him. Who would ever take seriously a kid who practically sells his body for others’ pleasure?
Thirty-five-year-old Chance Whitaker has sworn off dating younger men after having been cheated on one too many times, until the owner of Matchmakers convinces him to take a chance on Remy Dawes, a gorgeous kid who surprises Chance at every turn.
As things fall apart through meddling, death, and betrayal, will there be a second chance for two people to find love?
(Note: This story takes place in a fictional world, the same as the Shifting Isles series. There are multiple gods, different names for the days of the week, etc. A glossary is included with the story for those interested in the little worldbuilding details.)
REVIEW:
This was one incredible book and I actually can’t wait to get off here and start the new one! I laughed, I cried, I fell in love with the characters. I anguished when something happened with them. It still has me reeling. The writing was so on point you couldn’t help be drawn in and feel like you were right there with every step.
These two characters, Remy and Chance, were just….incredible. The ups and downs, the pasts, the crap they kept going through and yet they kept fighting. Remy is a dancer or stripper, he does both. He does live porn. But all that means nothing to him. It’s just a job. What he really wants is someone to come home to, or someone to come home to him. He wants love. He wants long-term. He wants lazy days in bed, and cooking together and the dog and white picket fence. But he needs someone who will look past what he does for a living. And someone who will love him despite that and what he’s been through. When his boss and friend, Danny, offers to fix him up with older Chance, he figures why not? But Chance has had it with young men. They aren’t mature and they are always cheating on him and he has had enough. Against his better judgement, he agrees with Danny to come meet Remy. But he’s dreading it knowing what Remy does. When Remy blows his mind with a kiss that leaves him breathless, he really wants to see where this goes. But life has a way of intervening at every turn and this relationship almost doesn’t even make it off the ground. And it keeps digging in hits. But they try to keep going and keep strong hoping that love will be enough.
Gah. These two. I don’t know which just ran me through emotions more. I think my sympathy would go more to Remy for what he’s been through, but even though Chance hasn’t had it quite as bad, he has still been through some stuff of his own. The opening paragraphs of this book, though, just utterly break me as far as Remy is concerned. The first breaking, lol. He wants love so bad. He wants someone to come home to. He’s so lonely. And he’s such an incredible young man. He’s smart, considerate, always trying to take care of others, he has the most incredible personality, no matter what he has been through. And he goes through even more. But he may cry and be lost for a bit but he keeps getting back up and fighting. He keeps getting up with the hope that love is around the corner for him. And when Danny sets him up with Chance, he finally feels like he’s found what he’s looking for. But he doesn’t know if Chance feels the same.
Chance is sick of young men. He loves the younger men but dang he’s tired of being cheated on. Chance is such a good guy himself. He’s caring and thoughtful, hardworking and wants someone to love himself. It’s been over a year but he just can’t bring himself to get back into dating because he can’t let himself trust again. When he agrees with Danny to meet Remy, he really doesn’t want to but knows Danny would leave him alone if he don’t. And Remy blows him away. With one simple kiss. He can’t get Remy out of his mind. He runs into him at a coffee shop and as they are getting to know each other, he makes a huge ass of himself. He keeps stereotyping Remy, just because of his work. Now I’m so not going to lie here. This is not the only time he does this to Remy and I want to punch him every time. I’m screaming at the page, going “just get to know him!” I know it’s hard when your potential boyfriend screws others for a living. It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that it’s just a job. I don’t know if I could do it, to be honest. Not to be judgemental. But it’s a lot to take. The passion between these two is just combustible and you can’t help but root for them to get together. As they are finding their way together, everything is against them. Even friends.
You know, every day in life we are hit with something. It may be something minute, but it’s there. And having the strength to overcome, no matter how small it may be, is huge. And this book is very much taken after it’s title. Second Chances. We have to give second chances if it’s worth it. Sometimes third, fourth, fifth, etc. chances. We have to keep fighting every day. And life is going to throw curveballs every chance it gets. What we choose to do is what matters. Second Chances. Remy and Chance have to learn that as well. And that’s what I love about this book. They go through some absolute hell in this book, but they keep going, because it’s worth it. I really recommend this book. It’s full of hope, love, angst, betrayal, and so much more. But it’s worth it. It’s beautiful even when you are screaming at the pages or bawling your eyes out. And it’s one that will be on my shelves to read over and over again.
RATING: 
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