Reviewed by Anna Lynn
TITLE: Love in the Balance
SERIES: Peachtree #2
AUTHOR: Brigham Vaughn
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2020
LENGTH: 259 pages
BLURB:
Russ Bishop and Stephen Parker are in love. They’ve settled into their relationship and are both happy. But Russ wants more than what they have now, he wants forever.
To him that means marriage, but for Stephen that has never been an option. Marriage equality still isn’t recognized in Georgia so why want what he can’t have?
When Stephen’s ex re-appears, they’ll have to decide once and for all if they’re ready to commit to a lifetime together.
REVIEW:
This is a continuation of Russ and Stephen’s story. In book 1, Off Balance, we read how their friendship/relationship blossomed from an unfortunate accident which resulted in them spending time together and learning more about each other. This then led to a blossoming relationship which mind you has a lot of ups and downs due to several factors, one of which is their respective financial status. Russ worked hard to be where he is at right now. He is a man of principle and he won’t just allow anyone to pay for him, which is one of the things that he and Stephen disagree on. Stephen sees how hard Russ works, and when Russ told him about his financial situation, he wants to pamper him a little, but Russ doesn’t want Stephen to spend money on him. We read about their disagreements about this which blew up and almost, almost destroyed their young relationship. But Russ has finally agreed with Stephen that when it comes to Russ’ health and safety, Stephen can indulge in buying him stuff.
At the beginning of this second book we witness the change during this year’s company Christmas party as compared to the previous year. A few months after they buried Stephen’s dad, they attended their company’s annual Christmas party together. They didn’t really want to flaunt their relationship, they just didn’t want to hide it. After which, Russ’ father and sister comes to celebrate the holidays with them. It was awkward as a family not having been together for a long time, add in Stephen and Addie’s boyfriend, Joseph. When at first Addie was a bit blunt with Stephen and Russ’ relationship (she couldn’t help it she said), getting the chance to know Stephen and seeing how happy they are somehow made everything real for her. She can see that Russ is truly happy. Alan, Russ’ dad, is truly accepting of their relationship. It started with a few awkward moments, but eventually things started to look good. But then Russ received a call from Evan. Evan was the funeral employee when Stephen’s dad was awaiting burial in a funeral home in Putnam. Russ has befriended the young man while they were there. He left his contact details with him.
A few weeks after, Evan called again and this time to say that he got outed, lost his job and his parents kicked him out of the house. He had nowhere to go. Russ, with Stephen’s agreement, ask him to come to Atlanta and stay with them until he gets on his feet. True to what they agreed, as soon as Evan got accepted in a job and was able to save up a little more, he moved into Russ’ former apartment that he shared with Monty. Just in time when Monty decided to move in with his girlfriend.
Russ and Stephen’s relationship is becoming more stable. They suited each other really well, in their jobs, in their beliefs and in everything else, even when they disagree on a few things, they still complimented each other. So Russ’ thought that it is the right time for the next level in their relationship. He has always dreamed of getting married to a man he truly loves. Stephen has mentioned several times that they needed to prepare some legal documents to protect each other in case something happens to one of them. Meanwhile, Russ agonized as to how he will propose marriage to Stephen, he talked to his father about it, his father was so happy for him. But when finally Russ got the nerve to propose, how Stephen reacted wasn’t how he imagined it at all. He never thought that Stephen didn’t think their relationship was worth a marriage. Well, he didn’t exactly answered no but rather to give him time to think about it first. But let’s face it, I would immediately surmised that he doesn’t really want to marry me, if it were me. Russ’doubts and insecurities surfaced again, add to that the fact that Stephen’s ex appeared back in his life.
I love how real this story is. How real their daily struggles are. How real the pain is when one of them or both of them hurt. Russ’ pain when Stephen didn’t readily answered “yes” to his proposal. Stephen’s agony about not being able to voice out his fears to Russ about marriage. I love it all. It is a bit long but it is totally worth it. And the hotness is off the charts. I am in love with Russ and Stephen, I am in love with their lives!
RATING: 
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