Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Steady
SERIES: Lost Boys
AUTHOR: Kelly Fox
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 278 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2024
BLURB:
Hot for teacher? No.
Hot for teacher’s widower? Maybe a little more than I should be.
I merely meant to comfort Ren, to help him find steady ground in the middle of an ocean of pain. It was supposed to be a one-time thing.
Only… our chemistry, set ablaze by our extreme size and age differences, was something neither of us had experienced before. It was break-the-bed good and far too potent to stop at just the one time, so we didn’t. And we’ve been hiding it from everyone—including his son—ever since.
I know this can only end one way. I’m just the stand-in. The much, much younger guy with his late husband’s physique who’ll temporarily make him forget his grief.
If only he hadn’t been so… sigh. Amazing. Funny. Brilliant. Beautiful.
I didn’t mean to fall in love with him, but I couldn’t help myself. If only he were ready to fall in love again.
Is it too much to hope that with time and a little help from the late Mr. Paige, Ren could let me be the love of the second half of his life?
REVIEW:
Note: This is the fourth book in this series and does contain spoilers for the previous books.
Coming up to the anniversary of Mr. Paige’s death and the dedication of the new meeting house on the land that Robert left him, Ren is overwhelmed. Major finds him and offers him comfort. That offer of comfort becomes something more – physical – in nature. It’s supposed to be a one-off. But then it isn’t.
Major and Ren continue to get together on the DL with Ren showing up at Major’s place or Major hiding his truck in Ren’s garage for their trysts. But when Ren sees that Major is obviously feeling more than just desire, well he can’t deal with that guilt and calls it off. Major understands – not that he agrees or likes it, but he will defer to Ren.
Neither Ren nor Major is happy when they part. Ren is frankly miserable and his grief is really getting the best of him again. Major can’t seem to generate any interest in anyone else – even those he has been close to before. He’s never been a relationship guy before but has had friends with benefits. Now he’s just lonely and missing Ren.
Eventually Ren makes some changes in his life. He seeks support from others and figures out that allowing love into this life doesn’t mean he’s forgetting or doesn’t love Robert any longer. Major is fully on board with this thing. They just have to figure out how to tell everyone else – including Ren and Robert’s son who is older than Major.
Well this was just lovely – hit so many perfect notes and real situational issues. And the end was freaking amazing 🙂 There is a lot of closure here – and not just for Ren and Major. I loved the way there is resolution for so many of the Lost Boys and their families. Just beautifully written. The love and care Major has for Ren is so perfect. What starts out as comfort and then sizzling heat transitions to overwhelming guilt that leads to longing and finally to the real deal. There are certainly hurdles, including when and where to take their relationship public.
The best thing about this final novel in the series is that it really wraps up a lot of story and couple threads. It also brings to the fore what a genius Mr. Robert Paige was and just how clearly he saw the people around them. He was just waiting in the wings with his beyond the grave assists for this family of friends and lovers. A truly remarkable series with a big fat bow of happiness in the end for all. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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