He's Come Undone: A Romance Anthology

The straight-laced, tightly-wound MC is a good subject for a romance anthology, as long as he doesn't come across as completely humorless or cruel. There's also the danger that the MC who loosens him up can be portrayed as a classic “manic pixie dream girl” (or guy) who is all butterflies and unicorns but no substance. Thankfully, that's not what happens in this collection. I was interested primarily for the M/M pairings of Adriana Herrera and Cat Sebastian, but I enjoyed all five stories.Appassionata by Emma Barry features Brennan, a reserved piano technician and Kristy, an alleged diva pianist who is rehearsing for her comeback concert despite a debilitating case of stage fright. I liked the fact that Brennan didn't really need to change much; in fact, his steadiness turns out to be just what Kristy (who is not a diva at all) needs. Bonus points for lots of music and piano terms. Unraveled by Olivia Dade could have been a stereotypical stern math teacher meets hippie bohemian art teacher. But Simon is so adorably flustered by Poppy, who makes murder dioramas (it's a real thing; google “Frances Glessner Lee”) that it didn't seem at all cliched. Plus he does a truly impressive grovel AND helps solve a mystery. Dade is a new to me author but I may be checking out her backlist.Caught Looking by Adriana Herrera starts in the middle of the action after best friends Yariel and Hatuey have hooked up. Yariel has been in love with Hatuey since they were teens, but Hatuey has always identified as straight, so Yariel has pined away in silence. After the hookup, Hatuey realizes he is queer but Yariel refuses to believe that their relationship can survive the transition from friends to lovers. There's lots of chemistry and flaring nostrils, and a cameo appearance by Juan Pablo from Herrera's [b:American Sweethearts 51838029 American Sweethearts (Dreamers, #4) Adriana Herrera https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574218575l/51838029.SX50_SY75.jpg 72922866]. Yes, And...by Ruby Lang provided another new author for me to check out. The conflict isn't so much whether physician Darren will loosen up thanks to actress/improv instructor Joan; he realizes pretty quickly that although improv isn't right for him, Joan just might be. But Joan has her hands full with a failing career and the demands of a mother with dementia, so she doesn't have room in her life for Darren. I liked the gentle humor and sweetness of this brief story, and although Darren's gesture to win over Joan is not one you'll find in many romances, it's perfect in its own way.Finally, Tommy Cabot Was Here by Cat Sebastian was just about perfect. Two men who were schoolmates and f*ck buddies in pre-WWII Massachusetts meet again unexpectedly 20 years later; Everett is now a teacher at the school and Tommy has come to enroll his son. The hard feelings between the two men slowly thaw, but there are decades of misunderstanding to resolve. Even as they become friends again and acknowledge their attraction hasn't changed, they can't ignore the fact that Tommy is married and part of a wealthy family that would never accept a homosexual relationship. Every glance and conversation between the two MCs is charged with feeling, and it's not only the stuffed shirt who has to change. Everett risks his heart to tell Tommy why he has refused to speak to him for decades, and Tommy realizes that he acted like a spoiled, selfish jerk when they were students and needs to make amends for the years they missed. I'm biased because stories set in the early to mid 20th century are my catnip, but I read each word carefully to make it last. By the time I got to the end where the two men were”flawed and messy, safe and warm, loved and loving,” I was in tears. Sebastian should consider writing more books in this time period, she captures the feel perfectly.ARC received from the authors in return for an honest review.