Fool for Love

3.75 because occasionally I wanted to smack one or both of the MCs

We all know that death is the BIG FULL STOP to any conversation and Nate & Presley have reason to feel it more than most. They meet at a support group for people experiencing grief over the loss of loved ones. Each has a steamer trunk worth of baggage to unload, though I'd tip the scales to Nate.

At 4o Nate is carrying the heavy load of unresolved issues dealing with his father's death, the manner in which it happened, and more importantly his attitude towards Nate's homosexuality. It's been 3 years but Nate has found it impossible to move on.

Presley is in the same boat for different reasons. When his parents, tragically & unexpectedly died while he was still in college Press pursued and ill advised relationship that also ended in death but has remained vivid in Press's life like an ever present shadow, one that doesn't let him move forward with anything or anyone new. The guilt, regret, doubt, and self recriminations have kept him paralyzed for 6 years.

When these two meet in the group the attraction is immediate but I liked that they didn't let themselves be swept away on the tide of lust. At first Nate tries to do just that, have sex be a salve for sleepless nights, it's what he's been doing, but Press won't have it and Nate comes around to the idea of actually getting to know his bedmate. In the ensuing months they do that and learn that they like each other as people. It's slow, I won't lie, but if we want realistic romance between over 30 adults grieving this is how it goes. That doesn't mean there aren't smexy times, there are, but besides that these two find in each other a person to anchor & shelter them when they need it most. They fit.

My other favorite thing is Frisco, Press's childhood friend. I'm thinking I'm going to like his story very much. For now though I may have to back to the ROCK BOTTOM series, which I haven't read, as apparently some of these characters appeared there, albeit briefly. You won't have to do that as this reads perfectly as a standalone. It's just me.