Reviewed by Tori (Vicki)
TITLE: River Home
SERIES: Accidental Roots #5
AUTHOR: Elle Keaton
PUBLISHER: Dirty Dog Press
LENGTH: 200 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 16th, 2018
BLURB:
If you don’t know what you want, would you recognize it if you found it?
Miguel Ramirez is the definition of a pocho: a half-breed, whitewashed Mexican–American who doesn’t speak Spanish. He’s also unapologetically bisexual. Three years ago he arrived in Skagit a broken man, having barely managed to escape an abusive relationship. Slowly, he’s rebuilt his life. He’s tried hard to discard his deepest desires and be happy with what life has doled out. Family feels out of his grasp; no one really wants to keep a stray, after all. Except, maybe, a red-haired stranger with a galaxy of freckles who seems to encompass everything Miguel’s learned to avoid.
Nate Richardson is a focused, solid, reliable, career-minded Federal Agent with no time for relationships outside of work. Then he runs into Miguel with his sparkling green eyes, rakish smile, and outrageous sense of humor. Nate starts thinking about Miguel as more than just another guy. Nate was sure he didn’t care about sex and didn’t believe in love… until he met Miguel Ramirez.
Things quickly heat up between Nate and Miguel. Crime in Skagit is heating up as well. Nate is sidelined when the case he is working on reaches a frustrating standstill. In the meantime, unnerving incidents transpire, some literally on Nate’s doorstep. Will outside forces—or their own baggage—keep Miguel and Nate apart? What exactly is family, and can Miguel and Nate make one of their own?
REVIEW:
I am so loving this series! And I’ve been waaaaaaiting for Miguel to get a book….
This series is set in the fictional town of Skagit Washington, and follows a loosely bound group of men as they settle in to long-term relationships. It starts with one couple and we are slowly introduced to a new character here and there, then those dudes get a book and a lover. This book follows Miguel, who I remember meeting in Buck and Joey’s book and loving him! He is paired up with Nate, who we apparently met in the first book but I don’t remember him, unfortunately! But I love him now…
So Miguel works for, and is best friends with Buck, who owns an auto repair business. Miguel has a history… Three years ago he left eastern Washington with enough money to buy a bus ticket to Skagit, running from his abusive boyfriend. He had no family, no friends and nowhere to go, until he meets Buck. Now when this book starts, Miguel has just had a quick fuck at Buck and Joey’s wedding and has sworn off men, since he is a bit of a slut and needs to focus on getting his shit together. Of course five minutes after he makes this vow, he literally runs in to a big red-headed man named Nate…
Nate has his own issues, especially with his family. Most of which is reveled as the story progresses, and I don’t want to give it all away here… I’ll just say that it’s pretty messy! Nate is straight, but hasn’t really been interested in dating much in the past. He’s made a fresh start settling in Skagit, working for Adam, who we met in the first book. The agents have been following a child trafficking network for a while, part of which was brought down, but it’s not been completely ended. Nate’s partner is undercover, so he’s spending time sitting around waiting for something to happen, things are a bit slow on the work side… But on a personal level, he is intrigued by the man he meets at Buck and Joey’s wedding, and that makes life more interesting!
Lots of things are happening in this story; Nate and Miguel start to date, and Nate is pretty ok with dating a man. Miguel is more freaked out about it than Nate! Strange things happen making Miguel think he’s paranoid. Strange things happen around Nate, making him think it’s the case he’s working on. Nate talks to his estranged sister. Miguel moves out, but hates it. Miguel is stressed at work. Things eventually get interesting for Nate at work. The two fuck like bunnies. Miguel proves that just because you are paranoid, doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get you. That’s all I’ll say about that!
I loved Miguel and Nate, they are the perfect balance. Miguel is kinda flighty, Nate is calm and stable. Nate is pretty safe, Miguel is the wild that he needs. Miguel has issues and needs a hero. Nate needs to be a hero. They also have commonalities, both need family. Both need love. Later in the story, both end up with similar injuries. Both act stupid. Both figure their shit out.
I loved the drama that I’m not talking about, it was super exciting! There’s another character involved, aside from the bad guy, and I’m curious to see if he’ll get his own book at some point. He’s got some issues and needs some love and stability. The solution to the bad situation was perfect, and the effect it has on Nate and Miguel was also perfect. Ugh! There is so much I want to talk about, but I don’t want to spoil it! A thing happens in a store that had me giggling with joy! And the owner of the store also needs a book! Elle better keep going with this series, she’s got lots of men that need their HEA!
So I am a fan of this series, and this author. She’s able to blend love stories with really interesting plots. I am also a fan of writing accurately about the state I live in, and since Elle lives in Washington, she’s done that really well! Even though the city is fictitious, the rest of the setting is not. It works. Her characters are all well-developed, with good back stories, and lots of issues. I love that! Her sex scenes are great, emotional and very sexy. The not romance plot lines in her books also work, and seem plausible to me. Basically she’s become one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to see what she does from here.
You could probably read this book without having read the others, although you might be confused about who the side characters are. I’d really recommend reading the others first, especially Buck and Joey’s story, since they are so entwined with this one. The whole series is worth reading, although I’ll say the first one is the weakest of the series, so be patient with that one. From then on, they are fantastic!
I really enjoyed this one, I am so happy Miguel and Nate got their story and their happy ending!
RATING: 
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