Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Age Rules

SERIES: Open Wounds #4 & Breaking the Rules #5 crossover

AUTHOR: Jacki James & Michelle Frost

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 173 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 18, 2019

BLURB:

I was still too old for him, and he was still too far in the closet for me, but damn, if I didn’t crave him like a drug.

After spending twenty years serving in the US Navy while Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was in effect, Darren Davis is unapologetically out and proud. He knows exactly what he wants in a relationship, and up and coming MMA star Andre Harrison isn’t it. He’s too young, his time in Austin is too fleeting, and he’s definitely way too far in the closet. All Darren has to do is convince his traitorous heart that Andre isn’t the man for him.

It’s true what they say, one phone call really can change your life. Rushing home to Austin when his former hockey star father has a heart attack puts Andre Harrison on a path he hadn’t allowed himself to imagine. Between trying to mend his father’s health, keeping his MMA training on schedule, and hiding his growing attraction for hospital President Darren Davis, he finds himself succeeding on all counts except one. Try as he might, he can’t deny the connection he feels with the sexy silver fox, and wonders if something real could grow between them if they’d only break their own rules and give their feelings a fighting chance.

REVIEW:

Damn. That’s all I can think of. I have not had the pleasure of reading the Open Wounds series yet, but you can bet your patootie I will be going back to do so now. Wow. I really liked Darren from the other books, even though he was in them a lot. He always seemed to have a good personality and was a good guy, so I’m glad to see Nathan got him with the ‘love glitter’. Lol. And what better way to challenge that ‘hard-nosed’ military man (retired) than an MMA fighter, who can easily overcome him in strength.

Darren is in his forties and lately he’s starting to notice more about his life. He really loves his friends, but he’s ready to settle with the right one. And not the twink waiting on their table. If he wants someone to submit, he wants to earn it. When he gets a call about a ‘celebrity’ having a heart attack and being in his hospital, he makes a point of going and visiting to make sure all is well. It doesn’t hurt that the son of the patient is none other than his MMA crush, Andre. And the minute he lays eyes on the young man, sparks fly. But Darren knows he can’t. Andre is too young, too straight or closeted at least, (huge no), not to mention the son of a patient.

He helps them through the short time in the hospital and offers his number to Andre if he needs anything. Once they start talking more, Darren can’t get the man off his mind. On a date with someone else, Andre and his friends and family come in the restaurant and Andre shuts him down. But later at the club, Darren can’t hold back anymore. The attraction is too intense. They agree to a one-off but it quickly starts into something more. Both know time is short and hearts are going to break, but no one can say anything. Until Andre makes a decision and Darren makes the wrong choice. With Andre’s big fight almost here, he doesn’t know if he can concentrate and Darren is in pain thinking of watching him. If they can’t get past the past and move forward, it will be over for good and neither knows if they can live with either decision.

I understand when people get into sports they have to understand their lives will be under a microscope for the rest of the lives. Or so it seems. It aggravates the crap out of me that people are still so bigoted and judgmental of people in the spotlight. They’re human, too, and should be allowed to live their lives the way they want to. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. So, for people like Andre, coming out can often be a career suicide. So staying in the closet seems like the only choice. But it’s hard. So hard. You have to constantly watch everything you say or do and heaven forbid you get to date. It’s ridiculous but the way of life. And for Andre, the pressure with his father makes things worse. It’s wearing on him.

But yet, I get Darren’s side of things as well. Having to live under DADT and losing a relationship from having to stay closeted, he doesn’t want to live that life again. And it’s his right. He’s earned that. But sometimes there has to be a bit of compromise for things to work. Not saying you have to compromise yourself or do things you don’t feel right about, but at least try to understand the other side. And if you do, and you love the person, figure something out. Give the person time and space if need be. Everyone has to come out on their own.

But as clear with anything, there has to be communicating on both sides. And both sides have to listen as well. Give and take. Or nothing will work at all.

It’s such a great story. I love the way things turned. A lot of soul searching everywhere was done and it was spectacular.

RATING: 

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