Reviewed by Anna Lynn

TITLE: Off-Balance

SERIES: Peachtree #1

AUTHOR: Brigham Vaughn

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2020

LENGTH: 391 pages

BLURB:

Love doesn’t always add up.

Russell Bishop is a rising star at Vantage Marketing, but when he slips on a coffee spill, he never expects to land in the lap of luxury—and the chief financial officer’s bed.

Russ has worked hard to get where he is and doesn’t need Stephen Parker to take care of him. But as they wrestle to balance love and finances, the tables are turned when Stephen’s father dies.

It’s Russ’s turn to take care of Stephen, opening his eyes to the true depth of his feelings—and what he can bring to the relationship. If Russ can find the strength, he can be Stephen’s support, his heart, and his hope for the future.

REVIEW:

We are who we are and no matter how others may react to it, it is but fitting to live it as we see fit. It is our life after all!

We really can’t help who we fall in love with. Our heart chooses for us. Age would not matter.

Their attraction to each other were instant. The first time they laid eyes on each other, a spark was ignited. Fate is meant to bring them together, although no one would have thought that it would be through coffee on an early morning. They are co-workers. Stephen is the CFO of Vantage Marketing, while Russ just joined the company six months prior. Stephen was juggling his stuff while holding coffee and climbing the stairs one early morning at work and spilled his coffee. Before he could put a sign over the spill so no one will slip on it, someone already did.

Stephen has been eyeing Russ since the company Christmas party. Although they don’t work in the same department, he has been keeping tabs on the younger man. The accident resulted to Russ staying in Stephen’s luxurious loft. As he cannot go home to his shared apartment for it requires him to climb four flights of stairs because it has no elevator for its tenants and his concussion needed to be watch over from time to time, Stephen graciously offered to let him stay at his place for the time being. Stephen felt responsible for what happened to Russ.

Stephen is in his late forties, while Russ in his late twenties. Stephen is successful in his career as he has been working for a long time. He is single and has his own place. Russ is still struggling, he is still paying off his student loans. He barely has enough money for rent, food, suits and tires for his car. And he is proud, and not entirely in a good way. Russ believes in working hard for what he wants and what he deserves. Sometimes it is hard for him to just accept something freely. He feels inadequate somehow if he receives it.

Now I can understand falling hopelessly, head over heels in love with someone, and age is not really a factor for me. Financial stability can be a problem for others but I think for as long as both parties agree and talk about things that bother them, then that is fine. But there are also people who can be bothered by all these. And sometimes they overthink things and it can eventually destroy the relationship, tenuous as it is.

The relationship that ensues between Stephen and Russ can that be of anyone in reality. They are still getting to know each other. They start to fall hard as they go along. Things are happening outside of their control that can test the tenuous bond at its infancy, but I guess because of their ages and what has happened in their respective lives, they somehow are getting through it one thing at a time. Although the challenges along the way can sometimes really pose trying times.

This is as real as it gets! A too-real story of attraction, acting on that attraction, love, pride, financial stability, adjustments to each other’s personalities especially upon moving in and homophobia. Facing challenges together in solidarity and working hard in order to achieve a stable relationship. All these characteristics are what I love about the stories from Ms. Vaughn. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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