Reviewed by Anna Lynn

TITLE:  Stud

SERIES:  Four Bears Construction

AUTHOR:  K.M. Neuhold

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  301 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 11, 2021

BLURB:

Stud: A boss, knob, or nail head…or, you know, the hot guy who’s way too young to keep asking me out with that adorably earnest smile…

It’s been three years since West walked into my bar and asked me out for the first time. I was relieved he stopped asking after the first few “no”s and a way-too-good-to-be-real kiss. He’s fifteen years younger than I am; it can only lead to trouble.

Of course, now he’s running through people off dating apps like it’s his job and wearing these lace panties that look really unfair on someone as furry and muscular as he is, and, um…what was I talking about?

I probably shouldn’t sabotage his dates, but I’m only human. I might not be ready to admit that I want him, but I’m definitely not ready to let anyone else have him either.

He’s too perfect, too hot, and I am in way too much trouble…

REVIEW:

Four Bears Construction is about four best friends(Cole, Ollie, Stone and Everett) who decided to put up their own construction business and it has become very successful. I really thought the series ended with all four best friends finding their happily-ever-after, but I was so excited upon learning and subsequently receiving the fifth book entitled Stud!

For those who have read this series, I think we all remember West. He is the nephew of Dare who was the grumpy neighbor of Stone, one of the four bears. When Stone and Dare were still outdoing each other with regards to grumpiness and such, Stone offered West a tryout phase as an apprentice in their construction business. At that time, West was still trying to find out which path he should take, what kind of future he wants. Now that Stone and Dare are living together, West rents the house formerly owned by Stone. And although he doesn’t have a table yet at the business, he has decided to pursue a few courses in college so that he’ll become more eligible for a higher position.

Sawyer inherited Wooley’s from Gus who was his boss and friend before the latter died. At first, he didn’t want it and didn’t understand why Gus would leave him the bar and his house. West encouraged him to stick to it and he’ll be there to help whatever and whenever he needs it. Now, when he inherited the bar, he just got dumped by his boyfriend who left him for someone younger, 15 years younger than him, the same age as West.

West has been crushing on Sawyer ever since they met. He has asked Sawyer for a date too many times to count and he always gets rejected. They had an amazing kiss back in Hawaii for Cole and Ren’s marriage but Sawyer told him that it will never happen, that they will never happen. After three years of the two of them being best friends, his friends and co-workers have decided to intervene. They talked to him and encourage him to go out there and date again. Even though West fells that he’d rather be patient and wait for Sawyer to change his mind, he also thinks that maybe his friends were right, it’s time to move on.

He downloaded dating apps and started to date, but every date he goes on just doesn’t end the way he expected it. And because they are best friends, Sawyer has made it a habit to always be at his house before and after these dates. Unbeknownst to West, Sawyer has been sabotaging his dates by telling his dates his “quirks.” And he didn’t have any! On one such date, he overheard Sawyer tell his prospected date that he has some flesh-eating-rash down there. When he realizes what Sawyer has been doing, he didn’t really get angry but instead he begins to hope again. And courageously, he asked Sawyer on a date again, and this time Sawyer said yes.

This book is the sweetest of all the Four Bears Construction books. West is an angel, he is so patient and kind. He works hard and now he is even planning to get his licensed so that he can fully become a big part of the business. And the fact that he agreed to help Sawyer renovate the house he inherited from Gus just proves that he is not your typical 25-year old young man. He is thoughtful, responsible and he definitely knows what he wants, and that is Sawyer.

I understand where Sawyer is coming from, the hurt he has been through when his ex-boyfriend (whom he was hoping become his husband) left him for someone younger (thus his repeated rejection of West’s date proposal). He is afraid of being left again if he falls in love, again! But as his friends would say it, there is always risk when you give your heart out. But is it better not to risk it at all and grow old a miserable man instead?

Ms. K.M. Neuhold creates characters and stories that you can fall totally in love with, like these bears, you will laugh, cry and root for them all the way. These characters have endeared themselves to me and I am happy that West got his own happily-ever-after, he deserves it too! So if you are into low-angst best friends to lovers trope with pining and waiting patiently (for a few years), then this book is definitely for you. Congratulations Ms. Neuhold!

RATING:

BUY LINK:

Amazon