Title: Lollipop
Series: Candy Man, #3
Author: Amy Lane
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (250 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 25 2016)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts
Blurb: Ezra Kellerman flew across country to see if he had another chance with the man he let slip through his fingers. He didn’t. Rico has moved on, but he doesn’t’t just leave his ex high and dry. Instead, Rico entrusts his family and friends with Ezra’s care. Ezra, confused, hurt, and lost, clings to Rico’s cousin and his boyfriend as the lifelines they are—but their friend Miguel is another story.
Miguel Rodriguez had great plans and ambition—but a hearty dose of real life crushed those flat. When Miguel finds himself partially in charge of the befuddled, dreamy, healing Ezra, he’s pretty resentful at first. But Ezra’s placid nature and sincere wonder at the simple life Miguel has taken for granted begin to soften Miguel’s hardened shell. Miguel starts to notice that Ezra isn’t just amazingly sweet—he’s achingly beautiful as well.
Suddenly Miguel is fending off every single man on the planet to give Ezra room to get over Rico—while fighting a burning suspicion that the best thing to help Ezra get over his broken heart is Miguel.
ISBN: 978-1-63476-905-1
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7350
Reviewer: Aerin
Review: This is one of Amy Lane’s most misleading series ever. Because with all the sweetness that lollipops, and candy and chocolate bring, you’d never expect for that subtle angst to take residence inside your heart and rip it to pieces a little at the time. I should know better by now.
Yet once again, I was surprised to realize Amy is a very sneaky writer, whose version of fluff and sweetness has a definite bite to it. But, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. And this time around I’ve learned a very important lesson… I am definitely going to be prepared for the next book in this series. Because now I KNOW that no matter what Amy Lane writes, I’m definitely going to feel the bite.
This book picks up exactly where Bitter Taffy left off. Ezra came from New York to try to win Rico back, only Rico is taken and happy with the love of his life, Derek. So Ezra finds himself dumped on Adam’s front lawn, at the mercy of strangers like Adam, and Finn, and Miguel.
Ezra is 28 years old and only now starting to discover who he is, after years of living under his homophobic and controlling father’s thumb. After literally tearing his life apart with his bare hands, Ezra escapes to Sacramento with the hope of getting Rico back. Only to end up with a solid group of friends who care about his wellbeing, a purring, loving cat who soothes his dreams, and an amazing boyfriend who would do anything to make Ezra smile.
Miguel has been crushing on Adam for a long time, and even though he knows there’s never been any hope of a romantic relationship with Adam, he can’t seem to make this stupid crush go away. Growing up in a loving Mexican family, Miguel is one of the six siblings. And since he’s not the oldest, nor the youngest, and he mostly feels invisible and unimportant. He doesn’t like to draw attention to himself and he’s definitely used to fading in the background.
When Ezra first becomes his responsibility, Miguel isn’t very thrilled, and he doesn’t really want to like Ezra much either. But the two men find comfort in each other in different ways. Ezra finds a shelter and a piece of heaven in angel-faced Miguel. A person who befriends him and doesn’t judge him. Who takes time to get to know the real Ezra. Miguel basks in the attention he receives from Ezra. He feels important to him, and he feels like he’s SEEN of the first time ever. Because Ezra remembers his name.
Miguel and Ezra become very close friends and enjoy being around each other. Ezra makes Miguel realize he’s important and belongs. While Miguel helps Ezra learns to trust and believe in the unconditional help and love offered by his new friends in Sacramento. Miguel helps Ezra find his real home.
Who knew that laid-back Miguel could become a jealous, intense lover? It came as a total (beautiful) surprise, because it seems like nothing drove Miguel crazier than all the men hitting on the innocent, clueless Ezra. If I knew that a burnt waffle was all that was going to take for Miguel to snap, I would’ve burnt the damn thing myself! It takes a while for the sex to happen. But I sure didn’t mind, because the slow burn was delicious.
But once Miguel snaps and finally takes Ezra to bed, there are fireworks, and passion, and sweetness and intensity! Ay papi, I get it, I totally do… Ezra is yours and only yours! Message received!
This book is about more than romance. It’s about friendship and love and home. It’s about letting go of the ugly and embracing the beautiful. And accepting that the beautiful doesn’t always come with riches and is not always glamorous. Between this book and Candy Man, I can’t pick a favorite, because they’re both incredible. And holy shit, we get another book, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Only no matter how much I try, I can’t figure out who the other MC is going to be… on the bright side, we’ll see a lot more of Adam and Finn.
This book was beautiful!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *