Title: A Kind of Romance

Series: A Kind of Stories, #2

Author: Lane Hayes

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 234 pages

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (June 6th 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Blurb: Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.

Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theater. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore.

Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.

ISBN: 9781634773232

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/a-kind-of-romance-by-lane-hayes-6888-b

Aerin’s Review:  ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts

A Kind of Romance started off as a 5-Hearts read, but along the way Zeke made this book lose its shine and I ended the last chapter with a solid 4-Hearts rating…until the epilogue. That epilogue was everything this book needed, it was sunshine and rainbows and wedding bells, but still real, with a touch of sorrow.

Zeke is a Wall Street executive whose no-nonsense attitude makes him perfect for his job. He has a heart of steel and a core of titanium, he’s impenetrable and vindictive. Zeke doesn’t like to lose and if he ever feels cheated or wronged, nothing will stop him from getting revenge. These are the things we see about Zeke at first glance.

What we don’t see is the confused little boy who lost his mother, the only person who fought for him and stood in his corner, to Alzheimer’s. Growing up was hell for Zeke, because his father was severely homophobic, and bullied and belittled Zeke every chance he got. Two decades later, Zeke’s father has had a change of heart. Time has allowed him to understand Zeke and accept him, and he tries as hard as he can to support Zeke and see him happy.

I love how Zeke’s father, George, was written. Homophobia is usually learned, or it comes from a place of fear and lack of understanding homosexuality. The fact that George worked hard at changing his views and accepting (and even rooting for) the LGBT minority was endearing and hopeful because people CAN change and they do it every day. Just look at how far we’ve come! However, Zeke is not one to forgive, and his relationship with his father is shaky at best.

Benny is an amazing character! He has all the sass and spark, but his beautiful, slightly effeminate exterior holds the core of a warrior. Benny loves who he is and never apologizes for it. He would never settle for anything other than being #1 in someone’s life. Benny works at his family’s Italian restaurant and at George’s bagel shop by day, while working towards his dream of becoming and costume designer in his free time.

When Zeke’s father tries his hand at matchmaking and pesters them to go out on a date, Zeke and Benny agree so that they can shut George up. They both know they’re not each other’s type and there will never be anything serious between them. But the chemistry burning bright can’t be ignored. A kiss turns into a series of intense, passionate, amazing nights of sex. But there’s also friendship and mutual respect forming between them, as they start getting to know each other. I LOVED them together!

The only downside was Zeke and his stubbornness to admit there’s more between them than a friendship with benefits. I understood it at first, but it took mostly the whole book for him to admit even to himself he loves Benny and wants him. The frustration I experienced was mollified by the intense feelings of possessive emotions Zeke got every time he was around Benny. Zeke wanted to crawl into Benny and never let go, which was stupidly hot!

The secondary characters were amazing. I just loved every single one of them! This book was significantly different from other Lane Hayes books, because it deals with the more challenging issue of losing a loved one, and all the angst and sorrow that comes with it.

There were times I couldn’t help but tear up, since Zeke’s internal sorrow and sadness over his mother and his relationship with his father was very real and very heartbreaking. And I believe this was the first time EVER that I cried with sadness and smiled with joy during an epilogue. Prepare for FEELS, people!!!

Prime’s Review:  ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts

This is book 2 in Lane Hayes’ A Kind of Stories series. However, this is a standalone book. Other than an appearance from the couple from book 1, A Kind of Truth, there is no ongoing plot to worry about. Which is good, I think, if you do not like you rock gods settling down with a boyfriend but prefer Wall Street exec from an ordinary family falling for an ordinary guy.

This is a totally fun book and really embraces the old saying “opposites attract” because that is exactly what Zeke (he hates being called Ezekiel) and Benny are. Zeke is a well to do Wall Street exec that is also just a tad snobbish. Which is a bit odd since his father and brothers, who run the family bakery, are the most ordinary type people that you could come across. Benny on the other hand is a blue-haired ball of energy who takes life in his stride.

These guys also have completely different family lives. While Benny works for Zeke’s father, George, on the side, his primary job is to work for his own family. They are Italian-Catholic and to me I saw my own family in that, we may not be New Yorkers but there is that unspoken camaraderie that comes along with coming from an Italian family that immigrated out of Italy. Benny is pretty damn lucky where his family are concerned. However, Zeke is not quite so lucky. His father was a difficult man to live with after he came out as gay and that is seen in the still mending relationship between father and son. I think it is also interesting how his mother is referred to as “gone”, because she isn’t dead. I assume that she has some form of dementia although it was never stated, and neither was that bit of information crucial to the outcome of the story.

It’s quickly evident though, he is just what Zeke needs to loosen up and to make Zeke realize that he has bloody horrible taste in men.

I absolutely adored this book. Benny most especially is a very relatable character, although Zeke’s troubles with his ex is also, unfortunately, all too easy to relate to. However, there were a couple times, because this book was completely told from Zeke’s POV that I wanted to know Benny’s POV. He’s a ball of fire that I related to on many levels and there were just a few times when I wanted to know what was going on inside his head.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *