The Romance Cover: Release Day Blitz, Review & Giveaway ~ Mondays With You by KJ Lewis

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Book Description:

High-school teacher West Connors struggled to put the pieces of his heart back together after the sudden departure of his best friend, Blake Thomas, from his life ten years ago. While loves have come and gone, West has never quite filled the hole in his heart Blake left behind.

Blake Thomas gets things done. As a handler for one of the top political fixers in the business, he focuses on work, friends, and one-night stands. He's fooled himself into thinking he's conquered the demons of his past until he runs into the best friend he was forced to leave behind when he was sixteen.

When their jobs force them into a fake relationship, Blake learns something about his childhood best friend and eventually about himself.

As they try to repair their damaged friendship, they find that moving forward can sometimes lead you back home.

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2wrKFgp

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2wdLn1r

B&N: http://bit.ly/2tNsYLm

iBooks: http://bit.ly/2v3yYif

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2eRSmIY

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Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 3 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***

“You can’t really love something that can’t love you back.”

KJ Lewis is a new to me author and this book called to me from the synopsis alone. MM, best friends and gay for you are some of my favourite tropes and this one was a fantastic mix of all three. I did not realise that this was part of a series and despite not reading book one, which concentrated on another couple, I didn’t feel all at sea and soon picked up on the who is who.

“He deserves someone who can give him their heart. Not someone who has no heart to give.”

West and Blake were inseparable as kids but their home life was like chalk and cheese. West was part of a huge loving family and Blake was always on the wrong end of his abusive, alcoholic uncle’s fists and boots. Being neighbours bought them closer together and West some became Blakes confidante and safe place, West’s home became Blake’s home…until one day it was all ripped apart.

What Blake’s uncle did to him had lasting repercussions and modelled Blake into the man he is today, but underneath the cool, aloof, control freak persona was a man that always missed what he once had, and more importantly the one person that meant the world to him. West took Blake’s departure bad, really bad. West knew he was gay, knew he was in love with his best friend. Years of mourning, not knowing whether Blake was alive or dead ate at West so when their paths cross in the most unexpected of circumstances some ten years later the past comes flooding back.

“…how can I admit to him that the best friend he had is gone? How do I explain to him the monster I had become?”

West is a teacher in an under-privileged area and also coaches them in sport. West has poured his heart and soul into his kids and has turned many a life around. Blake is a political fixer, being ex-military, his training comes in handy and his tasks are sometimes flirting with the wrong side of the law. Total chalk and cheese and yet despite their differences as soon as they meet, it was like they were never apart.

“I wonder if people realize all-consuming love shouldn’t devour your light, it should reflect it, make it shine brighter.”

Second chances, forgiveness, explanations, finding oneself and a lot of love are at the centre of this book all the while wrapped in a case for Blake and his band of merry men and women. A little suspense and intrigue gives another dimension to this MM love story. For me, I did find the pacing a little slow in parts and though the story dragged a little I was so engrossed in West and Blake that I kept going regardless. KJ Lewis really nailed the intensity between Blake and West, their connection was electric, intense and extremely hot! Gay for you is something hard to convey, especially when said man was a manwhore before, but being that these two had history and they work through their issues, their coming together wasn’t all that unexpected. While in the beginning I had a hard time accepting that this tough mercenary type person had changed at the flick of a hormone switch, together, these two just worked.

“…I can’t be the only one to fight for us. He has to want this. I can’t want it for him. I won’t force him to be with me. Without a doubt I love him, but I love myself too.”

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Click HERE to enter the Release Day Giveaway!

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KJ is a novelist, hot tamale-addict, and an abolisher of grammar. When not writing, you can find her reading at the beach, exploring New York City, or hanging out in her hometown of Memphis, TN. She started hitting Amazon's top 100 lists with her first novel, Taylor Made, in 2016. She is currently working on the next installment in the Sunday Love Series.