Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Catching His Heart

SERIES: Mesa Boys (Book 2)

AUTHOR: Christie Gordon

PUBLISHER: Christie Gordon

LENGTH: 308 pages

RELEASE DATE: June 10, 2022

BLURB:

A tough skater has a new understanding of himself. Then an old friend returns, looking for a second chance. With danger lurking from an evil ex, can their love survive?

Carter Davis struggles with his attraction to men after hearing prejudiced slurs thrown by his father all his life. He’s been told by the bartender at the local hangout that there’s a man who wants to meet him. What he doesn’t expect is that the man is Shane, an old best friend who ghosted him.

Shane Campbell fell in love with Carter, the boy he protected from an abusive father. After his mother divorced and moved them to New Mexico, Shane decided to ghost Carter and move on. After college, Shane moves back to Arizona. What he doesn’t expect, is to find Carter sitting in a bar with openly gay men.

Shane makes it clear this time around his intentions are more than friendly. Seeing Shane again brings Carter’s repressed feelings to the surface. As they navigate through Carter’s need to take things at a slower pace, Shane’s ex-boyfriend shows dangerous stalker behavior. Meanwhile, Carter’s mother is in danger from his father and Carter needs Shane’s help. With two men threatening them, can they sail across dangerous waters together?

Catching His Heart is the second novel in the Mesa Boys series. It is a friends to lovers, second chance romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a soft-hearted, artsy man and a tough skater with father issues and a need to protect. Each book features a different couple and can be read as a standalone or as part of the series in order.

REVIEW:

The skater boy you wanted to hate in book one now gets his own HEA and everyone is happy…well almost everyone…

Carter Davis is struggling with his sexuality. His Dad hates fags and every time he feels attracted to another man all he can hear in his head is his father’s evil and hateful rhetoric. But on a chance meeting with the handsome young man that Andrea, bartender and matchmaker at the Monastery Bar and Grill, has matched him with, he comes face-to-face with the past and his best friend who ghosted him when he moved away. Shane Campbell is having man problems. His ex is getting a bit aggressive and won’t take no for an answer that they are through. His best friend and fellow co-worker whisks him off to this cool place out in Mesa that Derek won’t find them. There he spots the man of his dreams, his former neighbor Carter. And if what Andrea is saying is correct, Carter isn’t as straight as he always thought. So is there a second chance at a love connection???

Yes, everyone wanted to hate Carter in book one. He leads Tanner on, then stops them suddenly and then, just as suddenly wanted him back after he got with Max. But Tanner wasn’t the right one for him. Yes, he is a patient and kind boss and roommate. And, yes he helped Carter to open his eyes and begin his journey into self-discovery. But Tanner was Max’s. That was just the plain truth. But he still wants to be friends with the confused Carter. But finding his Shane was what he needed. Shane was his one.

I loved how all four became great friends and we also started to get to know Dana, the baker at the Safeway store where Tanner is Assistant Manager and Carter is a cashier, a little bit better. Where Rock U is based around all the members of the band, Mesa Boys seemed to be based around the grocery store, their employees and their friends that love to skateboard when not working.

This book was a bit harder to read. It contains a fair amount of bullying, abusive partners, stalking and gun violence. It did show that perseverance and gumption can win. Carter’s Mom and little brother Dylan did what they needed to be safe. But I loved how Carter’s, and now Shane’s, friends rallied around when needed. And Shane stepped up to help the love-of-his-life Carter and his family when he was needed. He was Carter’s anchor through so much and his voice of reason. Whether it was to help out after the shooting or to help a parent in need, their friends are their found family and there to help when and where needed too!

I am so glad I decided to read this series. We all know I am a huge fan of the Rock U series and I really needed to read its roots!  Can’t wait to read the rest!

RATING:

BUY LINKS:

Amazon