Better Than Friends

June 19, 2014 by Whit!!!!!!!!!

Title : Better Than Friends

Series : Better Than Stories, Book 3

Author : Lane Hayes

Publisher : Dreamspinner Press (BUY IT HERE)

Genre : M/M, Contemporary

Length : 216 pages (e-book)

Published : June 16, 2014

Rating : ★★★★1/2

Blurb :

When Curt Townsend, a successful young DC lawyer, attends his first gay wedding, he doesn’t expect anything more than a great evening out spent celebrating two lucky guys willing to commit to one another. He certainly doesn’t anticipate meeting someone like Jack Farinelli. Fourteen years Curt’s senior, Jack owns two businesses: a gay bar and a motorcycle shop. He’s gorgeous and self-assured, but Curt is positive they have nothing in common.

Jack is comfortable in his own skin. He’s attracted to Curt’s quick wit and easy manner but most of all, to their unexpected mutual love of baseball. As they forge a friendship based on their shared enthusiasm for the sport, they begin a journey which reveals how their differences might be the catalyst behind a growing attraction. Both men have experienced their share of pain, but they realize they need to set aside the past and learn to trust in a future if they are to have one together.

Review :

I loved this one, too! This entire series has been a complete joy to read. I’m pretty sure I let out a “squee” when I saw it up for preorder. I honestly do not have one single thing bad to say about this book. It was great. I didn’t want to put it down and basked in the happiness Better Than Friends left me feeling all day long. This book is a new couple and can be read as a stand alone. There are ties to the previous couples but the book will explain enough for you to follow along with no problems but I recommend them all. You can always go back and read them later f this one sounds too good to resist.

Curtis is a lawyer in his twenties who meets Jack, an older strikingly gorgeous man, at the wedding of his friends from a previous book in this series. He’s also an ex of one of the grooms. Curt has kind of a prudish side but something about Jack stirs something in him he’s never felt before. I love the chemistry between Jack and Curtis. Curtis is off balance at first around Jack but also strangely comfortable. It’s probably because Jack is so full of life and embraces their chance meeting so fully. It’s not long before Jack moves in for a kiss that turns into a total make out session during the reception. Jack offers Curtis a ride home but that’s where it ends. Leaving Curtis to wonder if he’ll ever see Jack again.

Jack calls Curtis and invites him to a baseball game. Something they’re both fans of. A few friendly hang out sessions, with kisses, leave Curtis completely confused on where they stand. He honestly thinks Jack is out of his league and not at all interested in a relationship, so his confusion is understandable. Curtis knows he wants to keep seeing Jack even if it’s just friends or sex or whatever. They laugh and have fun. Jack’s the sexiest man to ever show interest in Curtis. He’s doing his best to just let it all play out but he wants Jack.

Jack is such an awesome character. You feel his presence when he’s on page. Joyous with a big personality. It’s all about having a good time with Jack. Sometimes these type characters can be obnoxious but I think the author did such an amazing job with his character. You really understand how Curtis is so in awe of Jack. He’s sexy, kind and funny. Loves to give Curtis shit in a humorous way. Their banter was so good in this book. Curtis does come with his own issues and the way the author infuses the subtle hints at them really has you wondering right along with Curtis as to why he’s not interested in relationships. I’m pretty sure I’d swoon from one of Jack’s kisses. You can practically feel the effect they have on Curtis.

Curtis was pretty complex. He’s opinionated and confident but also feels he’s not enough for someone like Jack. A messy control freak. Reading about him battling with what he would normally want and what Jack makes him yearn for makes for some pretty fun reading in the bedroom or wherever these boys find a surface. Really hot sex scenes. This author seriously knows how to infuse so much emotion into those scenes. Those are the scenes that make my chest swell with the beauty of it.

If you’ve read this far I hope my raving has helped you decide to pick up this book. If you’re into a slow but obvious build from friends to lovers you should definitely pick this one up. I loved the couple in this book. Their story is definitely one I’d recommend to a large majority of my m/m loving friends. Another great book by Lane Hayes. Now I have to wait for more 😦

Rated 4.5 stars by Whit