Reviewed by Cindy
TITLE: In The Eye of the Beholder
AUTHOR: Dianna Roman
PUBLISHER: Wild One Press
LENGTH: 387 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 8th, 2023
BLURB:
Daniel Ellis trusts no one and love, even less. His longstanding commitment to self-reliance backfires when a series of events finds an unlikely savior offering him assistance at every turn. How can the aggravating widower who’s sat at the end of his bar the past few years be his knight in shining armor?
Reluctantly taking a job as Eric Jordan’s assistant becomes more than just a means of safe haven. Working for his aloof bar patron broadens Daniel’s perspectives, threatening to tear down every wall he’s built around his heart as he begins to learn more about a man he’s always purposely ignored. All Daniel wanted was to hide from the trouble that’s following him, not have the rest of his world turned upside down by the wealthy older man who ends up being nothing he expected and everything he didn’t realize he might need.
An emotional slow burn, age gap, hurt/comfort journey of two broken hearts who find that the road to healing might require joining forces.
REVIEW:
Daniel is a man who only relies on himself and that’s the way he likes it. He’s got a best friend he would do anything for and plan for his future. But now that future is in danger and he’s not sure how to get out of it.
Eric can’t help being attracted to the attractive bartender. There’s just something about the man that brings a little light to Eric’s broken, lonely soul. When the opportunity to help Daniel pops up, Eric is determined to take advantage of the forced proximity, hoping to change Daniel’s opinion of him.
I liked this story a lot. Eric’s story is heartbreaking and sweet. Daniel truely believes that he doesn’t deserve love and happiness in his life. These two men are having a hard time escaping the darkness they’ve become mired in because they are so wrapped up in pain they feel is inescapeable. I love how by helping each other, they find their was into the light.
Eric does have some awesome friends and family who fully support Eric in his quest to help Daniel. It’s not easy when Daniel seems determined to sabotage his own life with every step he takes.
I love the banter between the two men and how it’s a perfect foil for the anguish in this story. It took a couple of turns I wasn’t expecting and I love that the author managed to give me some “AH HA” moments. I’m quickly becoming a big fan of Dianna Roman and her writing style. She has great world-building skills, writes witty dialogue and the book is very well edited.
She also knows how to bring the heat without letting the sex take over the whole storyline. That is a skill I’m coming to appreciate more and more.
If you are looking for something funny and sweet with a few thriller type moments, then I recommend you give this book a try.
RATING:
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