Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Off Balance

AUTHOR: Jay Hogan

SERIES: Painted Bay #1

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 396 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 29, 2020

BLURB:

When Judah Madden flees his tiny suffocating home-town in New Zealand, for the dream of international ballet stardom, he never intends coming back. Not to Painted Bay. Not to his family’s struggling mussel farm. Not to his jerk of a brother. Not with his entire life plan in shreds. And certainly not into the tempting arms of Morgan Wipene, the older, ruggedly handsome fisheries officer who seems determined to screw with Judah’s intention to wallow in peace.

But dreams are fickle things. Shatter them and it’s hard to pick up the pieces. Hard to believe. Hard to start again.

But the hardest thing of all? Finding the courage to trust in love and build a new dream where you least expected it.

REVIEW:

Off Balance is a wonderful small-town love story set in Painted Bay, on the northeast coast of New Zealand. I didn’t want this book to end; in fact, I almost started reading it over again. I’m not sure why I am so enamored of it. Maybe it’s because the heroes are so engaging. Or maybe the town and its colorful residents drew me in and made me feel at home. It could be the excellent writing, or most likely, all of the above. 

Our heroes, Judah and Morgan, have both been scarred by tragedy. Judah is a twenty-five-year-old professional ballet dancer living and working in Boston. That is, he was until he suffered a terrifying, career-ending fall on stage – dropping the prima ballerina – and being diagnosed with a severe vertigo–producing condition known as Meniere’s Disease. Now he’s living and working back on his family’s mussel farm in Painted Bay trying to manage his condition, cope with how his life and his life-long goals have been altered forever, and deal with his hostile brother. 

Morgan, ten years Judah’s senior, hasn’t been ready for a relationship since his wife died of cancer five years prior. He’s now to the point he can see himself with someone new, he just didn’t expect it to be a man. Even though he’s bisexual, he’s always viewed men as hookups, not relationship material. After spending time with Judah, though, he realizes his faulty reasoning and understands he doesn’t just want a quick fling or something superficial with the beautiful younger man. Judah, though, needs to sort out his life before he can commit to anyone, so they agree to be just friends. Ha! 

My life is a car crash. The last thing I needed was some sexy guy in a fucking uniform clogging up my common sense. And yet there was the whole sense of inevitability between us that fucked with my head. Because, no matter what I told myself, or him, friends without benefits between us was about as viable as an ice cream on a hot summer’s day, and likely to last as long. 

Just like the cover model, Judah has a smokin‘ hot dancer’s body and he likes to torment Morgan by walking around in his ballet tights. And tight they are, along with uber revealing. Morgan soon discovers he has a tights fetish. These two men have chemistry to spare, and their sexy times are very steamy. 

Jay Hogan’s writing style really appeals to me. She has a way with words – a turn of phrase – that conveys humor so effectively without being blatantly comedic. Part of it might be the kiwi colloquialisms that bring a smile to my face.  

Ms. Hogan has developed a picturesque world for her characters in Painted Bay. Everyone knows each other and each other’s business – which is amusing – and they all help each other out. Jonah’s best friend, Terry, operates the hardware store, Jam owns the quirky gift shop, May is the local hair stylist, and Jon is a policeman in town. When Judah has one of his attacks, they all pitch in to make sure he’s okay and gets home safely. When Judah helps Terry’s daughter, Hannah, dance in the school recital despite a disability, it seems everyone turns out in support. Ms. Hogan paints a vivid picture of small-town life, from the fishing boats along the waterfront, to the street of quaint shops, and Judah’s family farm. I can picture Judah’s boathouse home to a T, and see his mother’s sprawling house and barn. I’ve never lived in a small town but I can see the appeal.  

So yes, it is all of the above. Combine a well-written, interesting storyline with a homey setting, colorful side characters, and especially, highly likable main characters and you get Off Balance, a book I gladly recommend. I’ll be waiting for the next installment in the Painted Bay series, On Board, due out next year. I count at least five bachelors who could star. I can’t wait! 

RATING:  

BUY LINK: 

Amazon