Love and Lust rec: 'The Marrying Kind' by Jay Northcote
The Marrying Kind by Jay Northcote
What it's about (courtesy Jaybird Press):
Nathan wants to put a ring on it, but is Owen the marrying kind?
Two years on from their first date, Owen and Nathan are living together and life is good—except they're not on the same page about marriage.
A traditionalist at heart, Nathan wants it all: the wedding, the vows, and a pair of matching rings. Owen, on the other hand, believes marriage is old-fashioned and unnecessary. They don't need a wedding to prove their commitment to each other. Love should be enough on its own.
All it takes is one moment of weakness on a night out to force the issue. Owen finds himself engaged after a half-drunk proposal, and Nathan's enthusiasm sweeps him along. But as the big day approaches, the mounting tension finally combusts.
If he's going to save their relationship, Owen will need to decide once and for all if he's truly the marrying kind.
Why you should read it: In book one, The Dating Game, of the Owen and Nathan series, our heroes went from acquaintances to friends to lovers, at Nathan's insistence initially and mutual desire finally. Now, in book two, The Marrying Kind, they decide to take the next step: marriage. Well, maybe "they" decide. After an evening of drinking, Owen asks Nathan to marry him, and Nathan, ever the traditionalist, happily accepts and puts the wedding machine into motion. Unfortunately, this frightens the heck out of Owen who believes this will ruin what they already have — a loving relationship with lots of hot sex but without the formal ceremony, written vows or matching rings.
As time goes on, Nathan continues planning for the wedding of his dreams while Owen sinks deeper into despair, believing this dream is nothing more than a nightmare. After all, his parents' marriage was a disaster and Owen is convinced this will be his and Nathan's fate as well. When Nathan finds out Owen has cold feet, he naturally takes it very personally and tries to put some time and distance between himself and Owen while he thinks through this problem.
Nathan and his brother Ben go hiking and suddenly disaster strikes. Owen is in danger of losing everything he ever wanted. Sometimes a catastrophe is exactly what is needed to clarify what is important and what is not, or in Owen's case, what is reality and what is simply fear.
While you can read The Marrying Kind as a stand-alone novella, I recommend reading both books. They are short, sweet and absolutely delightful, each with its own HEA that fits the story.
Becky Condit is a widow, mother of three and grandmother of 10 who reads all kinds of books, but her go-to comfort books are erotic romances. A romance novel coupled with just-out-of-the-oven chocolate-chip cookies and a glass of cold milk is her idea of heaven. She reads and reviews more than 250 books a year, so you won't often find her without her Kindle in hand, but when you do, she'll probably be gardening, doing needle crafts, working in her upholstery workshop and spending time with her family.