REVIEW: 'The Secrets in My Scowl' by A.E. Via
Title: The Secrets in My Scowl
Author: A.E. Via
Published: October 28, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published/Via Star Wings Books
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer/Simply Defined Art
Edited by: Tina Adamski
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Length: 312 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; May/December; Comfort/Hurt; Friends to Lovers; HEA
BLURB: Sparks ignite and tempers flare when a sexy, optimistic wedding planner moves his business in across the hall from a jilted, divorce lawyer’s practice.
“Look smart ass. This is the last time I’m going to remind you about breaking sections of the lease. If there’s a next time, I won’t stop until you and your frilly, white wedding shit is thrown out of here. Do you got it?!”
Wylde looked in Jacob’s pained eyes and answered in his deep voice. “Yeah, counselor. I got it.”
From high school, up until he became a successful attorney Jacob Snowden was convinced that love had it out for him. “Everyone left,” were the words he lived by. His mother, his high school sweetheart, his father, and his fiancé, all left Jacob just when he felt it was safe to let down his guard. Not any longer. Jacob was a determined man, set at keeping people at a distance. If his six foot one, military-made body didn’t scare people off, his permanent scowl surely did. At almost forty, Jacob’s social life was non-existent, but he told himself his work fulfilled him. He helped people get out of their loveless marriages. Jacob Snowden was one of the best divorce lawyers on the east coast and was damn proud of it. So, imagine his disdain when a wedding planner moves into the suite directly adjacent to his… an insanely masculine, male wedding planner. Wylde Sterling had made quite a name for himself in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, working for a wedding planner that catered to the elite. He was known for his charm and impeccable taste. Yep, he was incredible at giving couples the wedding of their dreams. But he wanted nothing more than to plan his own. After striking out in love more times than he cared to admit, Wylde decided to start his own business in a new city, hoping Richmond would give him a fresh start. Things started out wonderfully – until he started to piss off the angry divorce attorney next door. Wylde could see past Jacob’s mean scowl, knowing there was a reason for it. It was the man’s defense mechanism, his means of keeping people away. Everything in Wylde told him to stay away, but he believed Jacob just needed to meet a man who had been hurt as badly as he had.
This story ends in an HEA and does not end on a cliffhanger.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW:
What do you get when you cross a jaded divorce lawyer and a carefree wedding planner? A.E. Via’s fun, feel good, romantic story, The Secrets in My Scowl.
This story beings with Jacob’s past. Jacob Snowden had a “not so good” childhood. His mom left when he was young and he grew up with a father who let an impressionable Jacob believe he was the reason she left. He has also suffered heartache - twice - and has now given up on love. Having no friends, and a family which is a thing of the past, Jacob hides behind his gruff exterior and cut throat reputation as a divorce lawyer.
Wylde Sterling is Jacob’s complete opposite. He grew up in a loving environment with two caring parents and siblings. He too has been unlucky in love but, unlike Jacob, he doesn’t hide behind a wall. He embraces life and is hopeful he will find that passion again.
Wylde has moved to town to open his own wedding planning business. He just so happens to move his establishment into the same building where Jacob practices law.
When these two meet for the first time sparks instantly fly: for the right - and wrong reasons!
Jacob’s hurt and pain from his previous relationships is very real and I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t take the “my dick is magic and will heal you immediately” approach. Jacob is convinced love will never find him but Wylde sees behind all of Jacob’s scowls and puts in the time and effort it takes to break past Jacob’s barriers.
What I really enjoyed in this story is the slow burn. Being a little older the MC’s have established careers and aren’t interested in fast hook-ups. Yes, the MC’s are “instantly” attracted to each other, and yes we see signs of Jacob thawing, but it’s at a leisurely pace. These two actually talk, date, take their time to get to know one another.
Jacob and Wylde work to make this “relationship” real. Once the two settle into a friendship the reader can see Jacob becoming attracted to the air of happiness Wylde seems to radiate. Jacob comes to really rely upon Wylde to calm him and make him feel better and I love that they were each other’s strength.
The Secrets in My Scowl is a delightful read. Adrienne does a wonderful job with her characters scenes: showing all of their lingering glances and the witty banter between the two, not to mention the steam.
I found myself laughing quite a bit and actually squirming during all the sexy times. Let’s just say they do generate some serious heat!
If you like your MC’s a little broken, a story with lots of humor and a nice slow burning romance, then this is definitely the book for you.
A copy of The Secrets in My Scowl was provided to Kimmer’s Erotic Book Banter, by A.E. Via, in exchange for our fair and honest opinion.
A.E. Via is an author in the beautiful gay romance genre and also founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she's not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family--a husband and four children.
Adrienne Via has tons of more stories to tell, but she really would like to hear yours. Via Star Wings Books is currently accepting submissions for established and aspiring LGBTQ authors. I've contracted and successfully published a couple authors - whose information can be found on my website - who can tell you that my passion is giving other writer's stories the love and care it deserves so it could be a gift to another. Visit my site to learn more!
