Book Review: That One Time

 

Darius

It takes some people most of their lives to find the other half of their soul. The one person who gets them. I found mine when I was eight and a new family moved into the house next door.

The pretty blonde with the pouty lips and the glittery eyes that held a darkness underneath ʼem. A preacher’s kid. Well-mannered. Respectable. Everything I was supposed to be and wasn’t. ʼCause of the secrets I was hiding.

The biggest secret of them all? The other half of my soul was a… boy.

As the years passed, that boy changed. He became less well-mannered, less respectable—his old man would say. Certainly less straight.

He also became his own person. He didn’t care so much what people thought about him, except for me. He still looked at me like I hung the moon until I ruined it. That one time he showed me what things could be like between us and I pushed him away…

Alvin

I never had a problem figuring out who I was. The church did. My daddy sure as hell did.

But me? I knew the moment the bed-headed boy next door welcomed my crying, bloodied ass into his window that I’d found my home.

Loving Darius wasn’t the hard part. Waiting for him was.

I couldn’t help but remember that one time at summer camp, when he kissed me back. For a single perfect moment, I had everything I’d ever wanted before fear stole it from us.

Now the only man I’ve ever loved is back and that window is cracked open again… The question isn’t whether I want to climb into his arms. It’s if my heart can survive him closing it for good.

That One Time is a standalone MM romance with a HEA. Please heed the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.

My Review

I am a huge fan of both of these authors. To have them collaborate on a book together is pure magic. I feel like I am seeing a different side of these authors. It is not dark like the books I usually expect from the authors. Yet, I love this book so much. 

Alvin and Darius are great. I love that these two have known each other for years. The banter that they share is the only type you can get from knowing each other. I laughed with Alvin calling Darius the various nicknames. just to get under his skin. My favorite is DeeDee. 

Ooh, the emotions are strong. Alvin is sail to Darius's boat. One without the other is useless but together they are perfect together. Calling my MM readers, you are going to want to check out this book.