Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Bridging the Gap
SERIES: Pride Road Trip 2026
AUTHOR: Sam E. Kraemer
PUBLISHER: Kaye Kline Publishing
LENGTH: 263 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2026
BLURB:
Can Weston Aames’ father’s mentee help West rebuild the reputation he carelessly wrecked in his youth? Will Bridges Eaton be able to keep his best friend’s son at arm’s length?
Weston Aames’ love for speed during his teen years leaves him without a driver’s license and with a less-than-stellar reputation. The consequences of his rebellious youth become apparent after his father’s untimely demise.
An addendum to his father’s will changes everything: If Weston doesn’t redeem his reputation to the satisfaction of the Board of Directors of his family’s investment firm, Weston and his mother will be cut out of his father’s estate completely.
After coming up with a plan, Weston determines there’s only one person with the experience to help him succeed—the young man his father mentored over the years, Bridges Eaton.
Can West convince Bridges to provide him with the technical and physical support he’ll need for West’s cross-country bike journey for charity, or will West and his mother be cut off from his father’s estate and left to their own devices for survival?
All Aboard the Pride Road Trip 2026 Series! Where we’ll stop is anyone’s guess, but you’ll be guaranteed a great time. Come along and join the party and who knows, maybe you’ll find your forever along the way.
REVIEW:
I love these Multi-Author Series! They are so fun and uniquely different although they follow the same basic theme.
Weston Aames not only just lost his Dad quickly to cancer but now all this money is tied up in the estate. And, to top it off, he has to now worry about how to keep his Mom and him housed, clothed and fed. Yes, he has an MBA thanks to his Dad’s insistence. However, that is not the life that he wanted nor chose. It’s being forced on him just like having to grow up and start being a working adult. Okay, 25 might be time to start taking things seriously but this is crazy. He has to prove to his half-siblings, his Uncle and his Dad’s business partner that he can be responsible, restore his credibility and name, and take over dear old dad’s company. But, with the help of his Dad’s protégé/business partner’s son Bridges, maybe he can pull this off for his Mom’s sake???
West is the epitome of the “poor little rich kid”. His Mom got knocked up by her boss and then his Dad was forced to divorce his first wife, in a very bitter and nasty divorce, and marry his Mom. This left him all his life as the kid that stole their Father to his half-siblings. And he knows he was a problem child as a teen. To the point that New York State permanently revolted his drivers license! But for his Dad to be so cruel to leave him penniless and responsible for his Mom was strange. He knew Dad was disappointed in him but he really thought that he loved him. And that his Mom was his Dad’s true love. So why???
I loved how West took responsibility immediately to make sure his Mom was taken care of. He went and found a job that he could easily do and still train for his event. It might not be using his full potential of his MBA but it worked well towards his ultimate goals. And I loved his plan. He was bringing awareness to the whole country about the plight of the LGBTQIA community. And having Bridges behind him and believing in him was what he needed. These two just worked together so well. They had so much in common and the age thing didn’t seem to be much of a factor. I know West played around with calling Bridges “Daddy” but that was pretty minor and I didn’t feel it was significant to the story. I felt that each man was a good match not only physically but mentally. They synced well. And, even though Bridges was twenty years Weston’s senior, they were the same when it counted and deeply in love with each other.
I loved watching West mature into the man he really was. He was compassionate and learned a lot through this process. He became the man he was suppose to be and proved he could and did become a leader! Although I don’t agree with the way this went down from his parents, I understood the tough love that was required so he would not become another spoiled rat like CJ. I didn’t like the level of deceit that was played at times by those who loved him. Claudia was a whole different story and I enjoyed how that evolved. I think she and West will become great support for such other as the business evolves.
Author Sam Kraemer never disappoints but this book was even more special and I can’t recommend it enough. It touched my heart and my soul.
RATING: 
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