Title: A Kind of Romance (A Kind of Stories #2)
Author: Lane Hayes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: June 6, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary
Page Count: 234
Reviewed by: Crabbypatty, Renee and Lili
Blurb:
Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.
Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theater. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore. Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.
Buy Links
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Excerpt
I can’t say enough good things about this book – fire up the Kindle, put on some Gershwin and start reading!Crabbypatty's ReviewTHEY SAID you could remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when a life-altering event took place. I could do better than that. I could tell you the date and time too. May 9, 7:04 a.m…. It was a Monday. Of course. I was standing in my kitchen, cradling a cup of coffee while reading the news on my iPad when my cell phone rang. I didn’t think twice about it. It rang all the fucking time. The setting was almost always on vibrate, but last night I’d changed it, thinking I didn’t want to miss Taylor’s call in case he decided to come by. He didn’t call. And he didn’t come over. I didn’t really think he would, but when we ran into each other at the farmers’ market in Union Square Sunday morning, I’d foolishly hoped he might. That was our spot. It seemed like providence. A sign of some sort telling us we should stop this nonsense and get back together immediately. True, Taylor had confessed he’d been cheating on me with one of my coworkers for the past six months, but… still.
The second round of incessant ringing served as a reminder I was a complete moron for wanting him back. And when I saw the name displayed on my cell, I knew the caller would agree wholeheartedly.
“Mornin’, Pops.”
“Ezekiel?”
I didn’t recognize the voice on the line. It was masculine but a little high-pitched. Definitely not Dad. Whoever he was, he was calling from my father’s phone. My heart slammed against my chest in a wave of instant panic.
So, the date? Best part of the book. This is where Hayes nails it every time for me. She makes everything so realistic with relationship buildup.Renee's Review“Just Zeke, actually. You’re calling from my father’s phone. Is he oka—?”
“He fell and hit his head. We called 9-1-1. The paramedics said it looked like a superficial wound, but there was blood everywhere and—They’re taking him to Mount Sinai on First. I’m following now with William. Filipe doesn’t speak much English, so Rand is staying to help mind the store and—”
“Whoa! Hang on. Where was he?” It was a stupid question. However, I felt nauseated from the unexpected adrenaline rush and was struggling to catch up and make sense of this conversation.
“At Bowery Bagels,” the caller replied with a heavy sigh. “I’m so sorry. I—I don’t know what else to say. I’m sure he’s fine, but—I’ll meet you in the emergency room.”
“Wait! Who are you?” I asked, staring into the open great room of my condo in a trancelike state.
I noted the sun’s reflection on the shiny dark hardwood floors and the way the tiny flecks of dust sparkled like fairy dust in the air. But I felt as though I were in a vacuum. Sound was muffled, and the light was suddenly too bright. I pushed away from the island and moved with purpose toward my bedroom, forgetting I’d been waiting for a response until the caller spoke again.
A Kind of Romance further cements why Lane Hayes is one of my go-to authors. Her stories are the perfect mix of sweet, humor, emotional, and sexy.Lili's Review“Benny.”
Meet Lane Hayes
Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions in the 2014 and 2015 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband. (She recently lost her beloved lab Mack, a character she lovely shared with us in her Right and Wrong series, and our deepest sympathies are with her and her family.)
Website Author Page Twitter GoodReads Past Reviews Library
A Kind of Stories
Tour Dates & Stops
June 7
TTC Books and More
Carly’s Book Reviews
Rick R. Reed
Drops of Ink
My Fiction Nook
June 9
Cia’s Stories
MM Book Escape
Gay Romance Org
Prism Book Alliance
June 14
Wicked Faeries Tales And Reviews
Love Bytes Reviews
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
June 16
Bayou Book Junkie
Diverse Reader
The Purple Rose Tea House
Joyfully Jay
June 21
Alpha Book Club
Molly Lolly: Reader, Reviewer, Lover of Words
MM Good Book Reviews
June 23
Man2ManTastic
The Novel Approach
A Kind of Romance looks like a great read 🙂