Reviewed by Anna Lynn

TITLE:  The Mechanics of Lust

SERIES:  A Mackenzie Country Story

AUTHOR:  Jay Hogan

PUBLISHER:  Southern Lights Publishing

LENGTH:  387 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 19, 2023

BLURB:

I broke the rules and fell in love with my best friend. Newsflash—he didn’t feel the same. I had to stand by and watch him fall for someone else. Moving on hasn’t been easy since we all live and work on the same high country sheep station, but I’m finally getting there.

I’m building a new life, a new set of dreams, planning a different future, just me and my dogs. The last thing I need is Luke Nichols, the sexy, enigmatic, ex-husband of my nemesis, filling my head with a laundry list of cravings. Talk about complicated.

Luke is only in Mackenzie Country for a few months and I’m not about to put my heart on the line again just for a little fun. But the more I’m around Luke, the harder it is to remember exactly why Luke and I are a bad idea, the worst idea.

Things between us are about to go nuclear.

Maybe I’m wrong.
Maybe we can keep it simple.
Maybe I can satisfy my cravings and hold on to my heart.
And maybe pigs can fly.

REVIEW:

This is book two of A Mackenzie Country Story, book one was The Art of Husbandry where we met and learned the story of  Holden and Gil. The Mechanics of Lust is about Zach, who as we recall in the first book was the “Best Friends with Benefits” of Holden then Zach fell in love while Holden did not. And then we have Luke, Gil’s ex-husband who came to see Gil to talk about what happened in their marriage and maybe, to heal them both too. We met these two beautiful men in book one.

Zach did not like what Luke did to Gil after their daughter died, he blamed Luke for it and decided that he dislikes him. That was Zach’s first impression of Luke. But as Luke decided to accept a job in the Oakwood area, the town in Mackenzie, there is little to no chance of them not seeing each other from time to time. And worse, Zach is totally attracted to this irritating man (according to Zach).

When Luke came to look and talked to Gil a few months back, he just wanted to heal the hole in both their hearts after losing their daughter. He knew he has done awful things and left Gil at a time when they needed each other the most, and he will always regret having done that. But now that they are on the path of healing and he has decided, with Gil’s and Holden’s help mind you, to accept the job of a helicopter pilot for a local company, he thinks he is a little ready to face life again. He didn’t count on being attracted to Holden’s best friend, Zach. Zach is young and doesn’t hide the fact that he hates Luke. But also Luke can see, sometimes, the attraction that Zach tries to stifle.

But avoiding each other and what is going on inside them can only go so far right? It has to come to a head sometime, and when it did, talks come with it. Luke has always been fortright to Zach and he couldn’t help the pain when he confronted Zach as to what he ever did to make Zach hate him so much. When they got the chance to talk “after a very eventful moment in their life,” things became a little clearer to Zach, he understood more and he had to apologize for all the assumptions he made about Luke. Gil had actually talked to him already about it but when Luke told him his side too he finally understood both men’s situation.

Zach’s father was intolerant of Zach’s sexuality hence the reason he moved out of their property and is now living in Miller Station. Although Julian, his brother, accepts him for who he is, and his mom slowly accepting him, Zach couldn’t help but feel sad and lonely at times thinking of his brother doing everything on his own. Their father is stubborn, much like Holden’s grandfather. He doesn’t accept changes easily.

How can these two men navigate their newfound feelings against all the things that they need to focus on? They are very attracted to each other, fact. Are they brave enough to go through it all all over again? Luke, after what happened to him and Gil losing their daughter. Zach after catching feelings for his best friend who didn’t love him the same way. Are they brave enough to venture into love again?

A beautifully-written love story Ms. Jay Hogan! The story is amazing, the backdrop is so beautiful and how I wish I could see it all someday, the Southern Alps and the country surrounding it. I am so in love with these men, they are just perfect in their imperfections, AMAZING! I want more…..

RATING:

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