Title: Make You Mine
Series: The Rock Gods, #3
Author: Ann Lister
Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance
Length: Novel (387 pages)
Publisher: SleighFarm Publishing Group (April 29, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate just not in moderation
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: Cooper Rand is the high-energy drummer for his band Ivory Tower. Everyone is drawn to Cooper; which makes him the go-to party guy for those lucky enough to call him friend. He loves the lifestyle that comes along with being a rock star and feels perfectly suited for the role. He is also a professional when it comes to the hook-up, unwilling to stick around long enough to allow emotions to enter into what he’s doing. He’s lived his entire life ‘in the moment’ and it isn’t until he meets Jayson that he begins to question the direction of his life and if he’s been missing out on something truly special all this time.
Jayson Keller has spent most of his life living on the island of Martha’s Vineyard working as a builder. Living on a small, conservative island also has Jayson working overtime to keep his sexual orientation secret. He has mastered the art of hiding in the closet, but he doesn’t want it to be a forever thing. Jayson always said if the right man came along, he’d happily leave the safety of his closet and live openly as a gay man. The problem is, living where he does limit his partner options and finding someone worth coming out of that closet for seems an unlikely prospect.
A party at Alex Metcalf’s island estate brings Cooper and Jayson face-to-face. Lightning strikes hot and fast and suddenly their lives take a whole new path. Has Jayson finally met a man worth leaving his self-imposed closet? Have a couple of hours spent alone with Jayson opened Cooper to the idea there is a deeper meaning to life beyond the stage and the value of a committed relationship? But, a bigoted family and the rock star lifestyle could ruin everything and keep both men searching for what was standing right in front of them: a soul mate.
Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Make-You-Mine-Rock-Gods-ebook/dp/B00K1053R4
Review: When Cooper Rand literally runs into Jayson Keller at a party, both their lives will change, irrevocably. The attraction is instantaneous and overwhelming, for both of them. From that first twining of the hands, it’s pretty much a done deal. Now Cooper and Jayson just have to figure out in their heads what they are already feeling in their hearts.
Cooper Rand loves them and leaves them, he has a steady stream of past lovers and the no strings attached approach has always been his modus operandi. Until he met Jayson. From their first meeting he was captivated by Jayson’s eyes. For the briefest moment, Cooper wasn’t sure Jayson was gay, but then Jayson kissed him and stole more than just the wild drummer’s breath.
Jayson Keller has spent his life hiding who he was. He and his mother escaped his abusive father when he was young, only for her to choose a replacement that replaced the physical abuse with angry words. He has always explored his sexuality behind closed doors and decided when he was a young adult that his true attraction lies with other men. His mantra has always been, I’ll come out when there is someone worth coming out for. Could Cooper be that person?
The two struggle with every aspect of their relationship except the physical one. Their attraction is immediate, intense and burns white-hot. It’s a flame that is never extinguished. It’s the trust, communication, falling in love and being loved that they are having issues with. Can Coop trust Jayson to be open and honest with him about everything? Can Jay trust Cooper with his heart, and not constantly worry his new lover is falling into the arms of another. Reputations do proceed us, you know. While passion in a relationship is extremely important, so is trust and communication. If Cooper and Jayson are going to make a go of it, they will have to learn that difficult balance between the three.
Lister has created some of the most fascinating characters with her Rock Gods series. This is book 3, and while the struggles are similar with each installment, each different character definitively shows a life of their own. I loved how she took the bad boy rocker, Coop, and showed how he was completely annihilated emotionally by the good old boy, Jayson. These two are like rabbits, which at first annoyed me, but then I realized that it was an important aspect of the story Lister was telling for these two characters. It’s safe and easy for them to just fall into bed. What’s difficult and hard is to talk, open up and trust each other with everything, especially their hearts.
Three dimensional and fantastically flawed characters undoubtedly bring ‘Make You Mine’ to life. But the in-depth and detailed writing skills of Lister add a reality and a beauty to the story that would be lost otherwise. This is a must read for those that like rocker stories, true love, hopeless romantics and those HEA endings!