Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Real Mann

SERIES: Bear Valley (Book 2)

AUTHOR: Aries France

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 270 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 14, 2021

BLURB:

Bishop

A real man is one who has seen active duty, who can take the high pressure and high demands of working for the FBI. So, why does it feel that I’m missing something? Why can’t I keep shoving my desires down, when that has always worked before? And why does Bear Valley, Colorado seem to hold all the answers to what could be real in my life? I’ll do anything to protect the place and people who have become important to me, no matter the cost. Maybe a real man can be honest about what he wants, and who he wants. Maybe a real life could be so much better than the lonely one I am living.

Quinn

The ingredients that can be blended to make flavors of beer. The permanence of brick and steel. That stuff is real. Solid. Dependable. Precise. And I know to be a real man—the kind of man like my brothers are, and not like the one my father was—I need to be those things, too. But I’m not. Not the real me, anyway. No, the real me is the one who needs adrenaline to push out the thoughts and feelings I can’t handle and does whatever it takes to get it. And there is no better adrenaline rush than the one I get from Bishop Frost. He’s the most real man I have ever met; there is no way he could want the real me.

This book is a contemporary MM romance with a HEA, but contains adult content for mature audiences only.

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Bear Valley is a series about four brothers living in a small ski-resort town. The series begins with Forever Mann.  Real Mann is best enjoyed after reading Forever Mann. Bear Valley is named after a fictional geographical location and contains no shifters, bear or otherwise.

REVIEW:

Oh my goodness gracious I’m so in love with this author’s words and the men she has created!

Quinn Mann owns the Black Diamond, a brew pub and eatery that is the perfect place to come and unwind after a day on the Colorado slopes. It’s a nice side-project to occupy his time and meet/talk with the local people when he isn’t across the hall in his architectural firm busy designing world-class unique state-of-art buildings. All is good and on- and-done hookups, along with daredevil and dangerous stunts, help keep his personal demons at bay. That is until the gorgeous FBI agent Bishop Frost comes across his radar and he can’t resist him. But Quinn knows in his heart he’s not good enough for the gentle soul that is encased in that magnificent body.

I love these Mann men and their significant others. All four boys have rose against the odds stacked against them before Ellen and Rita adopted them. Quinn seems to have had the roughest upbringing of the Mann boys and his mother’s early death followed by his alcoholic father’s neglect and abuse definitely left a lasting effect on the man. Thankfully Bish’s calming and loving presence became a grounding for him.

What I found interesting was the vast difference between Quinn’s family and Bish’s. While the Mann family is the richest family in Colorado they aren’t the least bit pretentious. The Moms are loving and extremely giving of both their time and money. They don’t demand that their sons  and daughter work in a specific job but let them develop their talents and pursue them. They do expect them to carry on their philanthropy work but their children do it freely and willingly. The Frost family, minus Bishop, are all about appearances and social climbing. Bishop is expected to be a FBI Agent because it is a job that is prestigious. How they could not believe that being a college professor and having your doctorate wasn’t good enough was beyond me. And believing that his being gay was just a rebellious phase was so outdated and offensive. They really were a piece of work. I loved how the Manns deal with them.

I did love how wonderful both men were as Uncles. Watching how protective and loving they were with Liam and Piper leads me to hope that they adopt some day soon. They will be fabulous and selfless dads.

I have to say…I really, really didn’t want this book to end. These two men really captivated me. I still have a really difficult time believing that Aries France is a brand new author and Real Mann is only her second book. She writes at the advanced level comparable to many of my most favorite seasoned professional authors. Her ability to weave a story that not only entrances you but makes setting down her books almost impossible. I knew I had a flight early the next morning but I just couldn’t set Bish and his 42 down. I can’t wait for Matt and Theo’s story next. This one is sure to cook up some tasty treats!

I do recommend that you read Forever Mann, the first book in the Bear Valley series first. We are introduced to the whole family there and get to know both Bishop and Quinn before New Years Eve. This book is a continuation of that book but focuses on Quinn and Bishop while still settling the situation with Jack and Perrin. These books are must-reads in my opinion and I can’t wait for many more trips to Bear Valley!!!

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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