Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Chasing the Dream
SERIES: Everyone’s Mechanic #1
AUTHOR: Anne Marie James
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 168 pages
RELEASE DATE: October 22, 2019
BLURB:
Book one in the Everyone’s Mechanic series
When Lee meets his fantasy man, his shy nature makes him want to run. But what will he do when his dream guy won’t let him?
Saul Valencia. Tall? Check. Muscles? Check. Everything Lee Clark ever dreamed of in a man? Check. Bad case of nerves and feeling like an idiot whenever he’s around? Sigh. Check.
Being kicked out of the family home for being gay would have been bad enough, but Lee Clark also worked in his dad’s garage. Losing his family, his home and his job all in the same day left him floundering. He can’t believe his luck might be changing when he finds a job at Everyone’s Mechanic, another garage, where he’s accepted for who he is.
Then Saul, a former linebacker for the NFL Raleigh Raptors and a friend of Lee’s boss, walks into his life. The man is the embodiment of all his teenage fantasies, but Lee doesn’t dare hope Saul will ever actually notice him.
Intrigued from the start by the shy man now working for his business partner’s boyfriend, Saul struggles through bad advice and misunderstandings to convince Lee that he’s serious about wanting a chance with him. Getting Lee to give him a shot at romance was difficult enough, but when drama and blackmail from outside sources are added in, the relationship becomes almost impossible.
It will take the combined efforts of Lee’s garage family and Saul’s real one to set things right.
REVIEW:
While I absolutely loved this story, I do need to point out that there are a few triggers in this. One of the MCs has a brother who beats him, has broken bones, etc. He is a severe bully and will stop at nothing to hurt him. So if that is an issue for you, please be careful.
Lee had just barely survived another beating and getting away from his father’s home after being kicked out, when he arrives at Kirk’s garage looking for work. When one of Lee’s old coworkers and an employee of Kirk’s comes in and sees his condition, he’s not a happy man. But he knows Lee is the one that kept the shop of his father’s running. And because of it, Lee has a new job and a new place to live where he can finally show off his skills and get credit for them and do what he’s good at. He also realizes he’s in a place where he’s free to be gay, considering Kirk is himself and about to get married. But the shock of Lee’s life, is that Kirk’s fiance has a best friend that is the man of Lee’s dreams. And now about to be the love of his life. The minute Saul saw Lee, he knew the man was his in every way. But because of Lee’s past, he’s been warned to take it slow. But he’s taking it too slow and miscommunication and confusion leave Lee and Saul in a mess a few times. And now to make matters worse, Lee’s brother is making his way back into Lee’s life by force and other means and it means trouble for Lee. And Lee has to accept that his new family has his back and will help him. But Lee has to make it out of things his brother is doing to him alive or nothing will move forward.
I ADORE Lee so much. This is one of those times where I wish I could reach in a book and slap the snot out of someone. Because someone should have beat the tar out of his father and brother a lonnnnng time ago. The only thing good about that part is the brother gets what he deserves in the end. But that’s all I can say about that. I don’t want to give it away. But what I love about Lee, is that even though he had a crappy father and a psycho for a brother, he remembered the love and teachings of his mom before she died and that made him an incredible young man. He’s shy as all get out, but once you get to know him you see him for what he is. A beautiful young man with a passion for life and love and a gifted young man that has the art of a master. He’s not afraid of hard work. He’s sweet and loving, considering his role models, that’s even more amazing. But it’s not just Lee that made this. Saul is special in himself. He saw Lee for who he truly was from the moment he laid eyes on him. But it’s not just that. I wish I had Saul’s family. Saul’s mom alone made this book perfect. Truly. You’ll see what I mean when you read it. She is the quintessential mom that everyone wishes they had. And if you do have that, you are lucky.
The characters in this book are great. I loved them all. And what impressed me even more, is some of the trouble with the people Lee’s brother got him into, could have turned out completely different. Considering what the men are and are a part of. But they turned it around on Lee and showed him he had more backup and support. All because of who he is.
I love this book and can’t wait to see who’s next.
RATING: 
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