A Chosen Man
Series: This is book 6 in The Men of Halfway House series
Author: Jaime Reese
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance (can be read as stand-alone)
Release Date: September 26, 2018
Photographer: Eric McKinney of 6:12 Photography
Blurb
For Wall McCormack, actions speak louder than words. He’s giving and protective, loyal to his friends, and devoted to his job. While confident and powerful enough to conquer any challenge, his greatest strength lies in his calm nature. Until an unexpected assignment sends his world into a loud and colorful chaos he never could have anticipated.
Rejection. It’s something Dylan Vaughn has known his entire life. But he’s a tough nut to crack and refuses to break. Armed with a sharp tongue and brutal honesty, he pushes through life and at anyone who attempts to take him on. Except for the quiet guardian who piques his interest and dares him to want…more.
When Dylan’s past comes back with a vengeance and jeopardizes their growing connection, Wall will stop at nothing to protect the younger man and remain by his side. But convincing Dylan that someone accepts the real man behind the cocky facade might prove to be Wall’s greatest challenge yet.
With his freedom on the line, Dylan must trust the strength of their bond and confront the forces threatening their future. Only then will he realize the dream of acceptance is real and finally have a place to call home.
Buy Links: Kindle Unlimited
Carra's Review
I’m always drawn to stories with characters who are incredibly intelligent, particularly when that intelligence is on a level such as what Dylan exhibits. His eidetic memory along with his natural mental capacity and his seemingly innate knowledge of computers makes him unique, even among others like him. But this is both a blessing and a curse, causing him to end up at Halfway House—and the events that happen afterward.
Dylan also doesn’t have much of a filter between his brain and mouth, and sometimes that can get away from him. Wall, called in for a special assignment involving Dylan, is the exact opposite. He’s a man of few words—with “why” being his primary go-to—but he’s not lacking in the smarts department, and his protective instinct is almost preternatural. Wall has trouble trusting and opening up thanks to previous relationships…but as you might expect, Dylan easily gets under his skin. Dylan and Wall are a clear case of opposites attracting; and while on the surface they might not seem to go together, as things slowly develop between them, their connection actually feels like it’s already been there, and this story just lets us see it becoming deeper and deeper.
There are returning characters from the previous stories in this series, with some playing crucial parts, but if you haven’t read any of the other books don’t worry—this one stands on its own just fine (though the other guys will absolutely pique your interest and you’ll want to read their stories as well). If you have read the others, this is like slipping right back in with old friends…old friends who are ready to protect you with their lives. And that’s pretty important considering that Dylan’s talents are being sought by not only his ex, but by other more dangerous people—so be prepared for suspense, action, and some truly nasty bad guys.
But getting through to the end will take a while. For me, I did have some points where things did feel just a bit drawn out…but those were interspersed with some very in-depth relationship development between Dylan and Wall, as well as the tension-filled action scenes. So, even though the story might have felt a little long, there was plenty going on and it did still keep my attention. What helped things along for me were two supporting characters whom I adored—Ox, a fellow resident at Halfway House who was so sweet and innocent and aroused my own protective instincts; and Maggie, Wall’s mother and someone who could really work her own bit of magic when it came to Dylan.
A Chosen Man was a fantastic addition to this series, and was a 4.5-star read for me. I highly recommend it to any M/M romance fan, and while you don’t need to have read the rest of the series before starting this book I still suggest you do just so you can get the background on the returning characters. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, some violence, and sexual content (Dylan and Wall have physical chemistry in spades!).
Author Bio
Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.
