Title:   As Advertised

Author:   Jaime Samms

Genre:   Contemporary

Length:   Novel

Publisher:   Freya’s Bower Publishing

Heat Level:  Moderate

Rating:  ♥♥♥♥ 4 out of 5 hearts

Reviewer:  Pixie

Blurb:  Tyler’s life perked up when he met Jake. So what if long-time friend Marty can’t stand him and his landlady has no use for his new beau. Tyler’s determined not to see the dark side of his lover. It’s his own fault for believing people don’t go around keeping secrets and lying.

Tyler should know better.   He’s an ad executive.  He knows the packaging is what sells, and Jake is quite a package.   His lover is no slouch when it comes to false advertising, either, and when Tyler finds out the truth, it hurts.    Weathering Jake’s lies and secrets gets easier with the help of new friends, Libby and Steven. In fact, Tyler figures that maybe a lot of things would get easier with Steven.

Tyler should have known better.  Not even someone as seemingly perfect as Steven Jessop is completely as advertised.

This time, though, Tyler has to make a decision. After all, sometimes, even if what you see is not what you get, what Tyler’s uncovered in Steven might just be what he’s always wanted.

Review:  I liked the characters in this as they seem human.  Tyler who suffers from migraines, Steven who has OCD, Marty who has Schizophrenia, Jake who is arrogant, egotistical and self-centered and Libby who is the all round nice girl somehow compliment one another.

Tyler can’t believe it when his face is introduced to a martini, then a rock masquerading as an engagement ring, and then his ‘boyfriend’ runs off after his fiancé. Libby picks up the pieces with more martinis and a good old shoulder to cry on. Steven is interested in being more than friends but his past holds him back. Jake is determined to keep Tyler and to ruin any chance that Steven might have.

I truly liked this book as Tyler and Steven took several months to get to know each other (even though Steven  doesn’t divulge his past), they both had reservations about relationships, Steven being worried that when Tyler found out  about his past he wouldn’t want him and Tyler worrying that he will just be used again.   The interaction between the characters is wonderful.   Tyler and Marty’s friendship is just really sad as you can imagine Tyler longing for his old friend back.

I recommend this as a really good read and hope that Marty will have a story of his own.