Samuel is a recovered meth addict dedicated to being a peer mentor. When he meets Kevin as he struggles to regain his family and beat his drug addiction, he wants to help him in any way he can. But as time goes on and he realizes he has deepening feelings for the other man, he knows he’s in big trouble. He wants Kevin, but he loves him enough to let go. Unless Kevin wants him to be a part of his family too.
Be Warned: m/m sex
Excerpt:
Samuel wouldn’t think of it again. Or so he thought. The very first thing that happened when he saw Kevin Monday night was his heart quickened and his brain returned to the hot moment when he’d dreamed he’d licked cum off his finger. He wasn’t sure what kind of face he was making, but it must have been funky because Kevin gazed at him with concern.
“Dude, you okay?” Kevin grabbed one of the plastic chairs and dragged it over.
Even though he was physically fine, he collapsed on the chair. “Yeah. Just some weird thoughts. How have you been? How are your urges?”
“I’m having a hard time. I’ve been dreaming about getting high.” A shiver must have run down the guy’s back because he trembled. “I hate it.”
Only God would ever know the shit Samuel was dreaming of. “I have those sometimes. They suck because you wake up without. I used to get high at night, so it was always the hardest for me. Just remember to be always vigilant. You have to always be prepared. Have a game plan.”
“Yeah.” A hefty sigh left the guy’s mouth.
The sigh was heavy enough to break the earth. “You okay?”
“I just…” Heat clawed up Kevin’s neck, and he fiddled with one of his silver earrings, something Samuel realized was a nervous tic. “I lost my job. They found out I had been coming in high.” He hung his head, and a silver cross he wore around his neck dangled over the table. “Now my parents are kicking me out and I can’t go back to my girlfriend’s because she threw me out too.” While Kevin spoke, he buried his face in his hands with a groan. “All this shit is a mess. I’m scared living on the street will put me close to meth and I’ll use again.”
Eyes widening, Samuel’s brain went into overdrive. You have an extra bedroom, whispered a voice in his head, and you run a call center that always needs employees because who the fuck wants that job? But the dream haunted him, and he was horrified to feel his dick stir a little, even here. He couldn’t let that stupid dream keep him from being helpful.
Kevin was still talking, unaware that he had become lost in thought. “No, I won’t use. No matter what. I have to get my girlfriend and daughter back.”
He thought hard for a second. Offering to let Kevin stay with him was a bad idea because: a) he didn’t know him well, and b) he liked his privacy. But the thing was, Kevin looked so lost sitting there hunched with his face buried in his hands. He didn’t like to leave someone hanging, especially when he had the means to help them. As he watched Kevin straighten up and begin to toy with his piercings again, he realized he wasn’t going to keep his mouth shut, even if the other guy gave him hard-ons and he didn’t know him that well.
“I think I can help you.” Running his tongue along his teeth, he watched Kevin turn his head toward him, and he remembered the dream. Heat made his cock jump a bit, but he shifted, praying Kevin wouldn’t notice. “I have an extra room and my call center is always hiring. I can put you up for a while until you get your shit together.”
Like a kid blowing spit bubbles, Kevin opened and closed his mouth several times, his dark eyes on him. “I’m not a charity case, okay? I can take care of myself.”
The reaction caught Samuel off guard. He held up his hands. “I don’t think of it that way. I needed help when I was first getting sober too.”
Kevin lowered his hands and stared at them as if he’d never seen them before. “I’ll think about it.”
“Just remember to always be prepared for temptation,” he said “It can strike at any time, especially when you’re stressed.”
The words pissed him off a bit, but Samuel reminded himself of the way he’d felt at that age, like he had something to prove. He slouched and nodded, his knuckles clenched before he took a breath. All his frustration left him when he saw the other man’s downcast face.
Life was tough, fuck anyone who said otherwise.
If you didn't know before this story had me super stressed and I couldn't stop reading. A particular part of you opens when you meet someone in who you see your younger self. With Samuel, I could see why he wanted Kevin to succeed because he knew how hard it could and would be. This story has a powerful kind of way about it.
This was my first read from this author. It was a short read, I read in one sitting. The story pulled me in from the start. It had strong plot line and even stronger characters.
Thoroughly enjoyed this read Samuel has been through so much, his life being brought up by parents that never truly understood him or accepted him for being a gay man. The day that he got chucked out of his home and told he was no longer part of the family Samuel made a decision that put him on a hard journey to get over an addiction of meth. But he did it and he’s come out the other side a stronger man. he now helps people who have the same addiction, he goes to a support group to help and mentor people to beat the addiction and this is where he meets Kevin. Kevin should of know better than to try drugs. He had watched his parents struggle with their addictions most of his childhood but at the age of 16 he got his girlfriend pregnant stresses of working being a dad and a partner got too much. And now he has lost everything his parents and his girlfriend kicked him out And he wasn’t allowed to be around his daughter which he totally understood. Who was going to let them see a kid when he was high but for the last few months he had been clean. Kevin thought he could do it alone but appreciated Samuel Who is his mentor. Samuel couldn’t help but notice how good looking Kevin was. And that wasn’t a problem he knew Kevin was straight and hoping to get back into that relationship but his best friend Daniel has put the idea in his head and now his body won’t listen or act reasonable when Kevin was around him. There’s a story behind him and his friendship with Daniel as well. I’ve Gotta say I couldn’t put this book down once I started. For a short read there was just so much information, emotion, heartache and jubilations. The chemistry between Kevin and Samuel is so hot so off the charts. I was happy that Kevin never questioned or fumbled about being bisexual . He accepted it except the attraction he felt for Samuel and these two could not get their hands off each other. But of course what would happen with Kevin’s girlfriend Alice and his daughter? I’m really good read
This book is about 2 people in various stages of recovery that fall in love. Sam was assigned to be Kevin's mentor and goes above and beyond to help him while he gets on his feet. This book is short and sweet with a HEA. Should have a drug use trigger warning. Also, it would have been more awesome if it was duel POV so you could hear Kevin's side and how he was feeling.
Samuel grew up in a strict household, his parents could not deal with his sexual orientation, the kicked him out at eighteen. This started him on the path the meth addiction. Now he has been sober for a few years and is now a dedicated peer mentor. Kevin is three months sober and trying to get his family back, especially his little girl. When he loses is his job, Samuel offers him the spare bedroom to him get back on his feet. Samuel’s feeling for Kevin start to develop but Kevin, is straight. But when the sparks fly between the men, is this just Kevin traveling on the wild side or can this mean something more?
When Samuel, a recovered meth addict, is partnered with Kevin, a recovering meth addict, as his peer support person, he thinks back on his own experiences and how to support him. When Kevin loses his job, home and girlfriend, Samuel opens up his own home and offers him a job to get back on his feet, quickly blindsided by his sudden feelings for Kevin. Now all he has to do is hide his feelings for Kevin to get him to stand on his own—but how? Short story of two men dealing with addictions old and new, to gain the life they want. Told from Samuel’s POV, with hints of Kevin’s POV in the dialogue. Sexy scenes, an old boyfriend, an adorable little girl, and two lonely men finding a HFN.
This is my first time reading from this author but it won’t be the last!! I loved the storyline of this book and loved Sam and Kevin even more. This is a sweet love story of two broken people who help heal one another. Their love is pure, it’s accidental and it’s HOT!!! If you are looking for this type of book, I strongly recommend you 1 click this book!
Hello everyone, I hope all is well! After having read the synopsis and the title for this ARC, I was curious to try it out. Definitely will say I felt for these MCS; especially for their connection and drug addiction. A short read that was satisfying for sure! If triggers such as drug addiction/use bothers, I wouldn't recommend reading this. Otherwise, I would say give this a try! Thank you for this ARC chance!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it the story was short and well written but covered the hard issue’s of drug use and how to put your life back together after addiction, also a bi- awakening so much in such a short story but it worked well I would definitely recommend it.
I really liked this story, despite it being quite short and I think it's because I liked the characters and found them personable. Samuel was such a caring guy, he gave everyone his full attention. Initially he is still pining for his ex, despite how many years ago they had been an actual item. Looking in from the outside we could see Daniel for who he was, but that wasn't in Samuel's nature. We then meet Kevin and it is confusing to work out what he is thinking. This book is written in single POV with Samuel's voice so we have to interpret Kevin by his actions alone. I think this book would have worked slightly better as a dual POV because Kevin didn't give quite enough away to feel the full connection and if we had more information we would have felt the sparks from both directions. There is an underlying sombreness in the story with the drug addiction and its portrayal of how consuming drugs are and how they can take hold the minute you let your guard drop. We are given a HFN ending, which can only be expected with such a new relationship. I received a free copy of this book via Evernite and am voluntarily leaving this review
