4.5 out of 5 stars
Ebook. 221 pages. Kindle Unlimited. Published April 1 2018
Blurb:
“It’s time to stop running away.”
Private security contractor Orion Miele is only back in Hidden Creek long
enough to help his Gramma get better. Orion never expected to fall for the only
brown-eyed beauty he turned down in high school… one who needs his protection
now. Juggling his responsibilities might get messy.
Gabriel Spicer can’t wait to get out of this town and his cousin’s fixed-up
shed, far away from his clingy ex. He works at the Mieles’ farm produce stall
to save up for the big move to Houston, where his life will get better. But
meeting his high school crush all over again throws his careful plans awry.
The walled garden designs Gabriel loves to sketch have nothing on the walls
around his heart. While Orion comes to terms with being bi, Gabriel realizes
that leaving isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. What he needs is shelter… here,
in Orion’s arms.
Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and
where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can
be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This
book contains a sweetly scheming grandma, a guy who thinks he’s straight, and a
sketchbook full of hopes and dreams.
Likes:
- The plot.
- The characters, especially Cora.
- The romance that started off with a spark but grew as Gabriel and Orion spent time together.
- Hidden Creek.
- Sex without the need for penetration.
Dislikes:
- Lots of winking.
- The blowjob right at the beginning threw me a bit.
- The editing could use work to make the sentences flow better.
- Some pronoun confusion.
This is my first time reading anything from E. Davies and I will definitely go back and read more from him. My biggest complaints had to do with the editing, and since I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited, that means Davies is an indy author and some editing mistakes are to be expected in my opinion. And it’s not like pro published books are flawless.
I was a little uncertain going into this book because I read the first book of the second series, Ashes, and didn’t like it much. But since Shelter had a different author I went for it. And I’m glad I did. Shelter is the kind of sweet and simple contemporary book I like. Gabriel and Orion have their flaws but they’re great characters. In fact, all of the characters, even the minor ones, feel very realistic. Some, like Gramma Cora, are downright hilarious.
The romance was well done and nicely paced. Orion has to come to terms with being bi, which happens fairly smoothly. The sex scenes are hot and, because this is Orion’s first time with a guy, start off with frotting. It was nice to see, because jumping straight to penetrative sex would have felt rushed.
This book has a nice ‘finally get a chance with a high school crush’ feel, mixed in with a little ‘small hometown isn’t all that bad’ kind of realization for both men.
I liked the subplot with Gabriel’s ex-boyfriend. Not only did it add tension, but it showed how difficult it can sometimes be to get away from an unhealthy romance and how someone who used to be trustworthy could turn dangerous.
I also liked the bit with Gabriel’s cousin. While he isn’t actively homophobic, he also still has negative feelings towards gays. It felt very realistic, especially given that the setting is a small Texas town.
Overall, this book gave me hope that I’ll like the rest of the series and that Ashes was just the exception.
Love is Love Reviews 