Title: Midnight Clear
Author: Mercy Celeste
Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: Novella (20,600 word)
Publisher: Self-published (November 29th, 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: Jake has lusted after his college roommate for four long years. Undeniably straight, Logan was out of reach. But was he? After the loss of his first love, Jake discovers that maybe Logan wasn’t as straight as he seemed.
Jake Benefield knows he has to let go of the crush he’s had on Logan Riley for four long years. He leaves to pursue a graduate degree only to discover love and loss. Home again, the last thing he expects is for Logan to confess his feelings for him. Can their friendship survive a cold Christmas one night stand or is Logan looking for more than Jake is ready to give him?
Note from author: Midnight Clear is a re-release formerly titled Need You Now. Other than title there are no significant changes to the story.
Product Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260138
Reviewer: Showme
Review: Jake Benefield takes a job teaching in his home town after a tragedy forces him to make a change in his life. He just wants to work and try to go on with his life, but his friend Logan has plans for him. Logan throws a welcome home party and all the usual friends are there. Jake has changed, but everyone else seems the same. Although Logan and Jake are still “friends”, a sexual encounter with a female friend years before caused a rift in that friendship and things have never been the same since. So, it’s a little awkward when Logan begs Jake to stay after and talk.
Luckily for us, the boys work through their issues and Jake finds out his secret about being gay is something Logan has already figured out. Jake has wanted Logan since the moment he saw him and had no idea Logan might feel something similar. Will giving into their lust mean ruining their on again friendship?
As always Mercy Celeste can write some hot sex. There was almost too much sex since the boys had a lot to work through, but they managed to have discussions between the teasing and biting. The ending was a little easy, but the boys didn’t really need more angst. There was plenty! I actually enjoyed some of the sappier moment from Jake’s former lover and that isn’t always well done. If you’re in the mood for a sexy holiday read with just a little heartache I’d recommend this.