Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Constructing the Soul
SERIES: Souls of Chicago #5
AUTHOR: Annabella Michaels
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 227 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2017
BLURB:
Akio Forrest loved his life. He had an amazing job, great friends, supportive parents and was recently given the responsibility of heading up the Agape House project, the construction of a new facility for the Chicago-based center that helped LGBTQ teens. He knew it would be a huge undertaking, but being able to help more kids in need was something he and all his friends were willing to work hard for. Excited to begin the project, Akio was taken by surprise when he came face to face with strong, sexy and self-assured, Morgan Greene, the new contractor for the job.
Morgan Greene had always considered his life a good one. Born and raised in a small town in Tennessee by two loving parents, he owned a successful construction company. When circumstances in his personal life left him desperate for a change, he decided to leave his home and move to Chicago. The move would allow him to finally, live closer to his favorite cousins while also expanding his business. Never one to shy away from an adventure, Morgan was excited about starting the next chapter in his life. What he wasn’t expecting was meeting someone like Akio Forrest.
Working together to make the Agape House project a reality, Akio and Morgan soon realized that what was happening between them was much more than just a simple attraction. When outside forces bring past hurts and doubts to the forefront, the two men are left to wonder if the foundation they’d laid was strong enough, or if everything they’d worked so hard to build would come crashing down around them?
REVIEW:
And the stories keep getting better and making me fall in love with them more. Now I’m fearful of reaching the end.
Akio Forrest is Landon Greene’s closest business association and his best friend. They worked together before Landon decided to start up his own company and he took Akio with him. They just clicked so well together. So when Lachlan decided to front a huge portion of the cost to build a new, bigger and more efficient Agape House, something that was near and dear to his husband Rylie’s heart, along with all the Greene family, Landon knew that he could trust his business manager with heading the project. It was also very dear to Akio’s heart because he volunteered there a lot so his heading this huge project was very personal for him. When, in a blind choice, Landon’s favorite cousin Morgan Greene was chosen to build the project it was well received by all the investors. Morgan had recently relocated and moved his construction business to Chicago from Tennessee. From the first time they met both Akio and Morgan knew there was chemistry between them. Then, on a double blind date, they found that each of them had been matched with the other and fireworks exploded! But can both men, who have a past hurt from men, forge a trust and learn to work with each other both on and off the job?
We had met Akio several times in the past books. He was the one person that Landon trusted to keep his business going while he was on tour with his brother’s band Carter’s Creed. One of the things that I loved about Landon here was that he spoke to the men and assured them that they had his okay to date if their feelings for each other moved forward. This was particularly relevant because both he and Micah had worried about how their dating would affect Gio and Caleb.
This particular book really touched on how the way that others have treated you in the past, how you took that hurt to heart and how it was a significant obstacle to get around for the future. Trust with these two was a huge thing. But, for Akio at least, feeling like he was enough instead of just being the “okay guy for now” instead of ever feeling like he could ever be the forever kind of man. I think that Morgan touched my heart the hardest when he took Akio to the shelter. That moment was pivotal and heart touching for me.
After seeing the huge Greene family in all these books I was worried that we would lose touch with them. It was great to see them so included in these books. One of the great things this author does is that she not only allows you to see the marriage proposals but includes you in their actual wedding. It is one of the biggest requests I have in books, can’t we have a novella of their wedding? Or at least an epilogue including their big day? Annabella Michaels not only includes us at her men’s weddings but makes you feel like you are actually one of the guests attending the ceremony. I love that!
These wonderful books keep getting better and better. I really love that we get to interact with all the men I have fallen for while we get to see a new love bloom and grow. I really, really am going to have a hard time when this series comes to an end because I have become invested in these characters lives. I want to see them grow together as husband and husband and meet the children will bless their lives.
RATING: 
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