Reviewed by Cindy
TITLE: Troubled Waters
SERIES: Pine Cove Book 2
AUTHOR: HJ Welch
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 284 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2019
BLURB:
Scout Duffy doesn’t know what’s worse. The fact that his scorching one-night-stand is his bratty new client, or the fact that he doesn’t even remember Scout. But beneath all the bravado, Scout can see Emery is terrified, and he’ll do anything to protect him from his attacker. If only he would lower his walls and let Scout into his heart as easily as he lets him dominate in the bedroom.
Being out and proud his whole life means Emery Klein has never been safe. But now his charity work and social media fame have put a target on his back from bigots, and his friends force him to hire a private bodyguard. Emery doesn’t need to be judged by some straight former-boxer, but his attraction to the gorgeous hunk is insatiable. When Emery finally recognizes Scout, they can’t keep their damn hands off one another, if only for as long as Scout’s in town.
There’s a reason Emery never looks too closely at the men he sleeps with, just like there’s a reason Scout lives out of a suitcase in motel rooms. Will two men hiding from hurt realize the love that could heal them both is right in front of them? Or will Emery’s attacker take everything before they have the chance?
Book Two of Pine Cove. Troubled Waters is a steamy, standalone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.
REVIEW:
Scout is a good man who’s doing his best to get through life. He works hard and avoid romantic entanglements but when Emery burst into his life, it’s turned upside down.
Emery makes it a point to never apologize for who he is. He also keeps his heart to himself, instead of taking any chance of getting it broken. When Scout is forced into his life Emery thinks things are going to go one way but life has a way of creating detours.
I wasn’t sure at first that I was going to like Emery. His outward entitled personality grated on my nerves but the more I got to know him, he grew on me.
Scout I adored from the beginning. I have a special weakness for big men with even bigger hearts and Scout fits the bill perfectly.
I like this little universe that the author has created for her characters. It’s filled with diverse characters that are easy to relate to and I like the little visits from the hero’s of the first book in the series.
I enjoyed the back and forth between Emery and Scout. Their emotions build and ebb, each peak getting higher until it all explodes. Of course with all explosions, there’s fallout and it takes a while for these two men to navigate their way through it.
Emery’s best friend is awesome, and we could all use the support of someone like her. Emery is surrounded by people who love him and it really does make Scout’s solitude all the more sad. I couldn’t help rooting for Scout to finally find a connection with someone because no one should be so alone in life.
I had no big complaints with this story, although it did drag a little in spots that I thought should have flowed easily. All in all, it was a good story with a decent plot line and bad guys that made me want to punch them in the throat. I found myself invested in the happy ending for these guys and I definitely wanted to read the next book in the series.
RATING: 
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