The One That Got Away by Rhianne Aile and Madeleine Urban

Blurb:

When David Carmichael suffers a migraine and then a broken shoulder, Trace Jackson, his best friend, simply moves in to take care of him. Their easy camaraderie continues with no problems until David discovers an undercurrent of heat and tension flowing between them. Despite knowing his best friend is straight, David is slowly falling in love. What he doesn’t know is that Trace is struggling with a similar discovery. 



Trace has never desired another man before. He’s a ladies’ man with quite the reputation, considered a top prize around town. But his close, treasured friendship with David makes the emotion and arousal growing between them irresistible. Soothing David’s doubts, Trace makes it clear that he wants to know if they can make it work. Because Trace is sure he wouldn’t love another man — that’s not the issue. He just loves David.

 

Review: 

David and Trace have been best friends for years, yet for all their conversations they’ve never talked about sex or their lovers. Instead, they have an easy and close friendship revolving around shared interests and activities. That doesn’t stop David from hearing about Trace’s reputation as a ladies’ man though, which is why David has never been interested in Trace as anything more than a friend. When David ends up bedridden with a migraine he calls Trace for help and like any best friend, Trace rides to the rescue and stays to ensure David recovers. Unfortunately the road to recovery is hindered when David falls in the shower and breaks his shoulder, thus delaying David’s ability to be self-sufficient once again.

Trace offers to stay with David to help him until he’s completely healed, as of course, any best friend would offer when faced with the inability to handle such tasks as clothing yourself or making dinner. In the span of six weeks of convalescene, David and Trace slowly begin to grow closer. Their gradual shift from friends to interest to finally lovers is best exemplified by a comment from Trace.

It had been six and a half weeks, and Trace thought of the time past in three two-week blocks: the two weeks of being closer friends than ever; the two weeks of dancing around each other, exploring, testing the waters; and then two weeks of doing, of kissing and touching and cuddling and David constantly blowing Trace’s mind.

Trace having never had any sexual attraction to another man before, let alone a close friend, takes the slow awareness of his interest in David rather well while giving himself time to adjust to his feelings and his comfort level. There was a very believable level of emotion from Trace as he came to terms with his feelings and what he was comfortable with, both sexually and emotionally, from another man. While Trace was a “gay for you” character with regards to David, the relationship was skillfully crafted with a steady buildup of desire as well as emotion.

David for his part was less of a dynamic figure although he had his own doubts, fears, and insecurities to overcome as well. He was by turns the aggressor as well as the one in need of reassurance that this wasn’t a phase or an experiment that Trace was trying. David’s need to be loved as much as he wanted and needed to love Trace lent an appealing vulnerability to the man who at times seemed to be patiently waiting for Trace to finally be ok with their growing relationship.

This well-written and highly enjoyable story was clearly written by two women, where at times the level of communication and ease of the two men was slightly too much. There was no real angst or confusion between either men as they came together nor was there any miscommunication or fear even from Trace who was struggling with his sexual attraction to a man for the first time. Trace and David’s uncomplicated acceptance of their attraction and resulting committed relationship was inviting, although personally it felt a little too easy at times. Instead, relying upon the men and their slow and easy road to romance made for an engaging tale with well-developed characters and some intriguing secondary characters. Matt clearly deserves his own happy ever after and I’d be surprised if he didn’t show up with a hot guy himself soon. So although this is a very easy road to happiness, it is also highly enjoyable and sure to delight female romance fans. 

Get it HERE!

The review that convinced me to get it was from JESSEWAVE. 

 

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