Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Not A Boy

SERIES: All American Boy

AUTHOR: Elle Keaton

PUBLISHER: Dirty Dog Press LLC

LENGTH: 116 pages

RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2022

BLURB:

Henry should have kept on walking by when he spotted the younger man sitting alone on the beach. He should never have stopped, never sat down, and certainly never kissed him. Because now Henry is experiencing feelings. And he doesn’t like it one bit.

Things happen for a reason, even random hook-ups. Ben was supposed to get off work early that night. It was no accident the sexy stranger stumbled on his beach hiding spot. The Kiss was destined, as well as what happened afterward. It wasn’t as if Ben believed in love at first sight, but this was damn close.

It’s a good thing Henry lives three-thousand miles away or he might do something stupid, like ask for Ben’s phone number.

Ben’s hometown boss begs him to return and he agrees, only regretting not being able to say goodbye to his snarky divorce lawyer. But all the wanting in the universe isn’t going to bring them together again, he doesn’t even know Henry’s last name. Besides, home is on the west coast, not Maine.

REVIEW:

I am really sad that this delightful series is coming to an end but boy oh boy did it end on a great note!

Ben is the interning wine sommelier that we met in Miski Harris’s Boy Overboard earlier in the series. Ben was on sabbatical from his job in Washington State to learn from wine expert Piper Walsh, the general manager of the Stoney Brook Inn where he had befriend Riko and had suddenly disappeared. His boss Cody needed him back pronto at The Brooch where things had gone dire with his absence. Ben knew he had to go but he had just meet the dashing and handsome divorce lawyer Henry the night before. Henry, a late-in-life baby had just scattered his parents ashes in the Stoney Brook bay. He had spent his childhood coming with his parents to the Tall Ship Festival in Stoney Brook Maine. Coming upon the gorgeous younger man and instantly connecting was not what he imagined upon returning to shore but he had a feeling his Mom was somehow working her magic. After a passion filled night he was bummed that Ben didn’t show up for their picnic after work. Figuring Ben didn’t feel the same way Henry returns to Seattle but Ben keeps hopping into his thoughts. Imagine his surprise when he goes to his law partner’s wedding and not only is Ben working the front desk but turns out to be his law partner’s son! Does Ben miss Henry like he has missed Ben? And can Henry get over his hang ups about marriage and divorce to see what is offered right in front of him?

I really loved this story. I loved the feisty Ben who let everyone know that he was not a boy but a grown man making his own decisions and choosing his path in life. And I loved how Henry was so devoted to his parents and their memories. Also, I can’t say enough about Henry’s best friend Shay and his fiancé Ryder. I guess those two have their own book about how they met and I can’t wait to read their story. I loved that they loved Henry enough to call him out on his foolishness and set him straight towards what was right in front of him. If his parents didn’t show him that love was real then he wasn’t paying close enough attention. And I love how Ben finally stood up to his sperm donor.

I am truly sorry to see this series come to an end. I have got to enjoy so many wonderful books by some of my favorite authors along with getting introduced to some amazing new-to-me ones. I’m so glad I took a chance and decided to take a trip to Stoney Brook, Maine and their annual Tall Ship Festival. It was definitely a trip worth taking!

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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