George and Harvey by Ashley John

81D9f7P5W9L._SL1500_Title: George and Harvey the complete box set {includes book 1, The Secret, book 2, The Truth and book 3, The Fight}
Author: Ashley John
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (292 pages)
Publisher: Ashley John (July 20th 2014)
Heat Level: Mild
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: “If you read one book this summer make it this one”
3 BOOKS IN 1!

The George & Harvey Series is a gay romance m/m novel series, and you can get all three books (plus an exclusive short story) for the first time! Follow the dramatic and heart-breaking journey of George & Harvey as they fall in love with each other against the odds!

Book one – The Secret
The Secret is the SIZZLING and ROMANTIC first book of the brand-new ‘GEORGE & HARVEY’ series about a married writer who falls in love with his young intern.

When 32 year old married author George Lewis sees 19-year-old Harvey Jasper reading one of his books in the local bookstore, he can’t help but be drawn to him. After giving Harvey his cell phone number, he soon receives a call from Harvey asking if he can intern under George. Reluctantly, George says yes, and agrees to let Harvey into his home for a whole month.

As they spend more and more time together, Harvey shares his heart-breaking story with George and his eyes are opened up to a whole new world with whole new emotions. George soon discovers something he never thought he’d find in another man…love.

Book two – The Truth
THE TRUTH is the explosive second book in the sizzling ‘George & Harvey‘series which follows George Lewis as he tries to decide between his wife and his lover.

After Harvey’s heartbreaking confrontation with his brother, Leo, he tries to pick up the pieces of his life, but he can’t decide where Leo and George fit in.

When George’s wife returns after spending months away looking after her sick mother, George must decide between his wife and his young male lover. Will Harvey finally get the man he loves? Will he find the family that he longs for? Will George be able to do the right thing and follow his heart?

Book three – The Fight

THE FIGHT is the much-anticipated third and final book in the sizzling ‘George & Harvey‘series which follows the rocky relationship between married writer, George Lewis and his young intern, Harvey.

5 months have passed since Harvey let George behind and he is touring the country with his brother Leo, but things aren’t quite how he expected. After struggling to stay sober, Leo slips back into his old ways and Harvey’s world quickly becomes hell on earth. Terrible and heart-breaking things happen to Harvey, forcing him to go back and fight for the only person who truly loves, George Lewis.

Will George accept him with open arms once again? Will Paula step-aside and let Harvey take her husband? Will Leo ever let his brother go? Are Harvey’s actions going to have deadly consequences?
Will George & Harvey ever get their happy ending?

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/George-Harvey-Complete-Romance-Collection-ebook/dp/B00LZF3XRQ/ref=la_B00KVMZINQ_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409172087&sr=1-2

Review: This series chronicles the dramatic and rocky love story of George Lewis, a thirty something straight married author, and Harvey Jasper, the nineteen-year-old gay student that fell in love with the writing as well as the man.

During a trip to a local bookstore, bestselling author George Lewis literally trips over a young man sitting on the floor plowing through his latest novel. The two strike up a conversation and in the end, Harvey leaves with a signed copy and the authors phone number. It’s strictly for professional reasons and soon Harvey, who wants to be a writer himself, is working as an intern for George. Over time, a romance blossoms and blooms and soon the two become lovers. But it’s not without a fair share of issues. George is still married, to a woman, and Harvey has a slightly crazy alcoholic and abusive brother.

George is closeted and married, his wife is a bitch, Harvey is young and naive and his brother just will not go away and let Harvey be happy. George continues to make promises to tell his wife the truth and leave her for Harvey, but every time the opportunity presents itself, he can’t bring himself to say it aloud. He continues to have his cake and eat it too. Harvey keeps issuing his ultimatum, but each time he accepts the next excuse George has for not following through. But eventually he has enough and leaves.

All three relationships are tumultuous at best. George is miserable with his wife, but he won’t leave her. Harvey’s brother Leo is an abusive, homophobic alcoholic that likes to wield a knife and threaten George. All of this adds to the strain that has George and Harvey at the breaking point. Then Leo sobers up and promises Harvey a better life on the road with his new band. At the same time, Harvey finds George embracing his wife and decides to leave with his brother. It would seem the relationship is over before it really had a chance to begin.
Now both men are miserable without each other. So when Leo falls off the wagon, Harvey heads back to George, but is it too late? Will George finally leave his wife? Will Harvey forgive, and trust him again if he does?

The premise for this story was promising, but much like the relationship between the two men, it wasn’t without its rough patches. I was intrigued with the gay for you twist and the age difference, but George made himself extremely unlikable with the way he handled most situations. At times, Harvey’s naiveté was astounding, but in the end, he finally stood up for what he wanted and walked away, as much as it hurt him to do so.

I enjoyed the gentle sweetness of their romance, it was almost innocent much like Harvey in the beginning. And then the addition of the bitter, unhappy wife that refuses to admit defeat coupled with the drunken brother added some suspense and drama to the story. But there was a lot going on and some things were not explored or explained well enough for my liking. The ending was a little bittersweet for me as well. A couple twists I didn’t see coming, but then it felt so rushed I had a hard time enjoying it.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me.