Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: No Mistake
SERIES: Arbor Heights
AUTHOR: Diana DeRicci
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 210 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 12, 2022
BLURB:
Once upon a time, there was a man who was happily married…
Dr. Bruce Angleton was living the good life. A strong marriage, a happy home, and the dream of starting a family was beginning to coalesce into more than just a dream. Until he returned home from an out of town business trip and everything he thought he knew was wrong. Secrets were being kept from him. The kind of secrets that can destroy a man. When life and love shatter, what does a man do with his perfect life?
Once upon a time, there was a man who thought he would never love again…
Gerard Niff had poured his heart and his soul into his career, gaining modest fame and fortune. Until cutting betrayal forced him to give up everything and start over. Returning to Arbor Heights, he put his name to work for him, giving him the opportunity to travel to perform. Stuck in a snowbound airport, he never dreamed he would meet someone who would turn his head or awaken his heart again.
What begins as a random encounter shared over coffee in a packed airport changes the course of their lives. When one sees the end of his world, the other can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Will time work for them? Or will their meeting be only a brief mistake in time?
REVIEW:
Note: This books is part of a series but works as a complete standalone.
Gerard Niff and a Dr. Bruce Angleton meet by happenstance at an airport when their flight home to Arbor Height is cancelled due to a snowstorm. They commiserate and share coffee and a table. Gerard offers his scarf as a pillow and Dr. Angleton gratefully accepts. After they get home, Gerard realizes that Bruce’s watch is tangled up. He reached out to his office to get it back to him but doesn’t get an answer so he decides to stop by. He almost doesn’t get past the front desk, but when he sees Bruce, he knows something is terribly wrong. Bruce tells him when he got home he was locked out of his house by his wife and she will not speak with him – having blocked him and only communicated through lawyers – serving him with divorce papers. He’s devastated as this completely blindsided him 🙁 Gerard is a comfort to him and offers for Bruce to stay at his house in his guest room until thing get sorted rather than continuing to couch surf at a colleagues.
Bruce takes Gerard up on his offer. He knew there was a reason he approached him at the airport. He just knew he was a kind and good man – and thankfully also proving to be a good friend. But this is just be beginning of change for Bruce. And Gerard continues to be there for him. Gerard has been through loss and betrayal also so he is good at keeping his friend grounded and looking forward. Gerard is also fighting his attraction to his straight friend. Except maybe he’s not really all that straight? And maybe they can be more than friends? Lots of changes and time will tell.
So I really enjoyed this story! It starts off with a meet interesting scenario at a snowbound airport. Serendipity intervenes when Bruce’s watch ends up in Gerard’s scarf and he has an excuse to reach out. Unexpectedly finding Bruce in need of a friend, Gerard is only too happy to oblige. This shows what a good person Gerard really is. I loved his family as well 🙂 It’s clear he also comes from good people. Bruce’s emotions are a total roller coaster in this story – as they would be based on all he has to confront. I loved how Gerard was just there for him time and time again. Bruce’s sort of “reawakening” and reframing of his past relationships, friendships and attractions after his friendship with Gerard deepens were very well described. Gerard’s fear of being hurt were also really captured with care. The few minor communication blips aside, the relationship development of this pair was sweet and sexy. In the end, this friendship blossoming into something more was delightful. If you’re looking for a fairly low angst, bi re-awakening story of two mature men who take a different road to love, then you’ll enjoy this one. A truly happy ending 😀
RATING: 
BUY LINK: