Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Beck
SERIES: Bar 28 (Book 4)
AUTHOR: JJ Harper
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 273 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 20, 2022
BLURB:
Finally, he’s found his perfect man. Will he be able to keep him?
Beck Thompson is out and proud. He has a job he loves and friends he considers his family. Okay, he doesn’t have a boyfriend, but chances are slim he’ll find the man who’ll accept all of him, his past and his tattoos. He’s happy. Sort of.
Until he sees the perfect man…with the same woman hanging on his arm every night. Damn.
Munro Sylvester has put every aspect of his life on hold to make his business a success. And he’s done it. But he’s never been true to himself.
One look at the gorgeous, colourful man changes everything. He knows he has to make the first move, but he may risk losing everything he’s worked so hard for.
Can Beck trust his heart that Munro is the one for him? Is Munro brave enough to come out and fight for their happily ever after?
Beck has a tattooed bartender who has never had any luck with love, a hard-working gym owner who’s never said “I’m gay” out loud, instant attraction, and well-meaning, meddling friends.
It is the fourth book in the BAR 28 series, a MM contemporary series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but you’ll enjoy them best by reading them in order. This series is based in the UK.
REVIEW:
I have loved JJ Harper’s fabulous books and was beyond thrilled when I got to review this one!
Beck is the last one standing so to speak. All his best mates have found their “one”. The man of their dreams that they could spend the rest of their lives with and have their happily ever after! That just wasn’t in the cards for Beck however. He has been shown time after time that he’s good enough for a romp in the hay but not the take home to Mum and Dad type. And he’s cool with it…at least on the outside. But after six months of the shy, handsome man watching him from the corner booth at Bar 28 he knows that’s not in the cards either. Not with the girlfriend hanging on him every second. But why can’t he for once be the one desired for more than a one-and-done?
Beck’s parents and family sure did a number on him. They broke down every bit of self esteem that that young fifteen year-old boy had. The colorful tattoos that he sports are covers for all the betrayal and disappointment he has endured. Thankfully he got away and met Sawyer at the pub he was working at. Then Max and Jonas bought it, kept them on, made the bar a success and their found family formed. A family that was extremely protective of each man.
I love that I got to read this amazing series straight through. From Max and Gus finding each other and surviving the homophobic attack on poor, sweet Gus. Max and his brother Jonas knew all about homophobic people like their parents who tossed them out as soon as they discovered their orientation. I love that they made Bar 28 a safe place for all people and that they took care of their own. All the men at Bar 28 are “brothers” not by blood but by love and respect. And then Sawyer discovering his submissive side with his giant Daddy Devon. Next we got to get to know Leo and his gorgeous man, super model Bruno. I agreed when someone said that you had to be beyond hot and gay to work there because all of these men are beyond gorgeous! I also loved that each story was uniquely different. From Gus’s more petite and slightly feminine side he embraced, to Sawyer being a tall Norse god of a man that just wanted someone bigger than him to take care of him like his disgusting excuse of a father never did. Then to sweet Leo who had to learn to trust again and survive what he had endured. His eating disorder was painful to read but necessary. Thankfully Bruno knew what he wanted and was willing to do anything to get Leo better/stronger and discover his worth.
I had wondered, throughout these books what Beck’s story was. I had kinda guessed that there may have been a little “something” between him and Jonas but knew that wasn’t his “one”. Watching what Munro went through to be able to finally come “out” was tough. Being forced to come out before you are ready is brutal but for Beck he knows what he has to do. He simply can’t lose him. He’s his “one”. But watching Munro know that Beck was worth everything was so amazing. Beck deserved to have someone as solid as Munro. And Munro’s Mom was extra sweet bow on the package. He needed to experience the love and acceptance of parents.
I was super worried how Lucie was going to affect their love story. She was totally deranged and had me worried the whole time.
I have loved all these stories and don’t think the next one can top the last but JJ always surprises me and has me falling head over heels in love with her guys. I simply can’t choose a special one because I love them all. I do highly recommend that you read this series in order. They are interconnected stories and you will fall for all of these men. I was worried that poor Jonas was being left out however it’s obvious that the newest member of the crew Haydn was going to make Jonas happy and be cared for. I’m thrilled we have at least one more book in this fantastic series and I personally Can. Not. Wait!!! A huge thumbs up on this latest book and the entire series.
RATING: 
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