*Warning ~ Possible Spoiler Alert*
Title: Hearsay
Series: Bylaws, #1
Author: Taylor V. Donovan
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (299 Pages)
Publisher: TVD Books (May 28th, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: Senior associate attorney Derrick Swain wants it all: a loving husband, a fulfilling career, and a couple of kids. After years of hard work, he’s on the fast track to a promotion. He’s also met the man of his dreams. A week of daily lunch meetings in Central Park provides the perfect setting to get to know him better, and Derrick thinks it won’t be long before they take the next step and go on a date. But instead of asking him out, the object of his affection stops showing up without explanation, leaving him to wonder what went wrong.
As part owner of one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City, Roman Bradford knows that professional success isn’t the be all end all. Although he’s been lucky in life, true love has eluded him for the most part. One too many failed relationships have caused him to be leery of trying again, until he meets a man who can only be described as temptation personified.
A few conversations are all it takes for Roman to start believing things will be different this time around. It doesn’t matter that they are boss and employee, or that he’s feeling too much, too fast. Not when he can see the same emotions in Derrick’s eyes. Then life turns on a dime, and Roman has no option but to let his chance at happiness go.
A battle of wills ensues when a life-altering case brings them together a year later. Roman wants to do the right thing by not letting anything happen between them, and Derrick is determined to prove they’re meant to be together. Evidence will be presented and final arguments will be made.
Will they be able to come to an agreement, or will they opt to have their potential relationship dismissed?
ISBN: 052814052814
Product Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hearsay-1527580-145.html
Reviewer: Lisa
Review: Hearsay is the first installment in Bylaws series about attorneys working for Acosta, Bradford & Chadwick. It is also part of a trilogy with in the series. All of the books will focus mainly on Roman and Derrick. You will get to follow their journey as they deal with damaging rumors, the judicial system, and life’s curveballs while they make their way toward coupledom.
I was fascinated by this book, so much so that I could not put it down till I got the end. You need to have tissues near you when you read this story because it will have you in tears. It is a very intriguing story that will draw you in and keep you captivated.
Roman and Derrick have been attracted to each other for some time. Derrick’s past and Roman’s future makes it very difficult to move forward. However, that was on Roman. Derrick had told him about how his mother had lupus and slowly died. He never thought he would have the strength to go through that again, not even for someone he lived. It made him afraid, and Roman would never do that to him.
When a teenager comes forward and says that one of Derrick’s friends with benefits molested him things start to heat up real fast. It heats up because this same young man says that he had seen Derrick and Tyler having sex and flashing him. It was all lies but brings things to the front of what is truly wrong. Roman was HIV positive and he didn’t want Derrick to face it with him.
Derrick had wanted his boss and loved him with his heart, but he thought Roman would never want him. No matter what anyone said, he just didn’t believe it. Now there was a problem with one of his past lovers and Roman figured he lied to him. Things were just not going the way he planned. He wanted Roman to love him and want him.
He knew there was some important secret that was not being spoken, but damn he wanted answers. The answer was not what he had expected, but he would do everything to prove to Roman that he was the one he wanted forever. Now all they had to do is to make sure Derrick didn’t end up in prison for a crime he did not commit. This has more passion and fire in it, then any other book I have ever written.
I was captivated the moment I started reading it. I must admit that even though I choose the book, the more I kept looking at the cover, and the title I just put it down to read later. Which once I started reading it I could have smacked myself upside the head for not getting to it earlier. It was an amazing story that will have even the strongest man in tears. It was so tender and so compelling that I just couldn’t stop reading it.
I felt bad for Roman. Here he is with HIV and thinking that the one man he loved would turn from him once he found out. Although I could have smacked him upside the head for not having enough confidence in the man he loves. Derrick proved that he has got to be the strongest man ever. He had shown that when he was just a child, with fears of what would happen to the point where he will do anything for Roman. As long as they stayed side by side for it all. Now facing prison on top of it all, plus all the rumors going around one would have to stay strong through all the trying times.
I would definitely recommend reading this. Although I would say that, I am mad at Taylor, for making me have to wait for the next story to find out what happens next. A cliffhanger was not what I was thinking when I got to the end of the book.
I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one in this amazing story. I must admit that I don’t know too much about HIV and aids but can there be a happily ever after or will there be pain to look forward to. However, I look forward to finding out. This story definitely has a twist to it that I absolutely loved. Trust me you have got to read this book.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *