Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Taking Chances in Cedarwood
SERIES: Cedarwood Pride
AUTHOR: Megan Slayer
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 119 pages
RE-RELEASE DATE: June 15, 2021
BLURB:
He found his freedom…in Cedarwood.
Cain Ables is the it actor in Hollywood. Everyone wants to work with him, his movies make money and he’s handsome—but all that glitters isn’t gold. He’s lonely. Growing up in the glare of the spotlight with the stage parents from hell and being protected from any scandal—and real life—has left him empty. Cain wants freedom and experience. He also wants to come out. The man who plays by the rules is about to break them all.
Andrew Meadows isn’t looking for love. He’s at the farmers’ market to sell the fruit and vegetables he’s grown. When Cain shows up at his stall, he’s captivated. The more they talk, the more he likes Cain, but Cain’s got baggage—and he’s not out yet. Yet something about Cain makes Andrew want to take a chance on romance…and forever.
Will the farmer and actor find the love they both deserve, or will the glare of the spotlight ruin their future?
REVIEW:
Cain is an actor who has had his entire life controlled by his parents and his agent. They control his jobs, his money, his fake relationship for the media, etc. He still lives with them. He has no money of his own, not a car, not a house, nothing. So when he decides to take off and try being on his own. He’s preparing for a role in an LGBTQ movie with an out actor that so happens to be filming in Cedarwood.
Cain’s first day in town, he meets Andrew at the Farmer’s Market. He likes him right away and offers to help him break down his stand. He offers to have dinner with Andrew sometime soon. The next time, he runs into Andrew at the grocery store and he’s not able to use his credit card. Andrew helps him out and also follows him home. They seem to get along well, but things get derailed with an unexpected visitor.
When Cain shows up at this farm, Maddie, Andrew’s sister doesn’t trust that Cain is really interested in Andrew and is just using him. Andrew has had some bad luck with boyfriends in the past and she’s protective of him. But Cain somehow is able to talk to her.
Of course Cain’s life in California can’t leave him alone and those benefitting from his gravy train show up far too soon. Cain decides he’s had enough and comes out with Andrew’s support. But the users haven’t finished with him yet. And when help comes from the most unexpected source, Cain might just be able to break away from his “handlers” and live his own life.
Well. I was not prepared for how insta-lovey this was. After literally meeting twice and then having shower sex, they are boyfriends and Cain is in love. I have a friend who had suffered abuse in her past and I just knew would marry the first guy who was nice to her – and she did. That’s how I felt about this story on some level. Cain has never had a relationship that wasn’t a set up, let alone one with a man. Andrew has been hurt before, but he’s so interested in Cain that apparently he’s ready to push aside his misgivings. I found that pushed the boundaries of believability. I didn’t like Andrew’s sister Maddie much either as she seems awfully pushy and overbearing. I missed seeing anyone else in Cedarwood in this one too – that’s kind of what I’ve come to expect in this series – that there would be visits from previous couples. So this one was a bit of a miss for me 🙁 If you’re looking for a quick read and don’t mind insta-love, then this one might be a good fit.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Pride