Love and Lust rec: 'One Step Further' by Felice Stevens
One Step Further by Felice Stevens
What it's about (courtesy of the author):
Alex Stern has it all; good looks, charm, a job he loves and everyone calls him a friend. He lives life to the fullest at a breakneck pace, in the city that never sleeps. But Alex is also a master pretender; not even his best friend sees the pain that Alex hides so well. Alex himself isn't sure who he is or what he's searching for, he only knows that he hasn't found it yet.
As a veterinarian, Rafe Hazelton loves each animal that crosses his path; they don't care if he stutters a bit or that he prefers men. Their love is unconditional, but his life is still empty; they can only give him so much. New friendships convince him it's time to break the wall of loneliness he's hidden behind since childhood and discover what he's been missing.
Alex and Rafe forge a friendship that turns physical, and they both swear that the relationship will last only as long as the fun does. But when old heartaches come to light and secrets hidden for years are revealed, Alex and Rafe discover if they accept what's in their hearts and take it one step further, the greatest reward is waiting for them in the end.
Why you should read it: Alex finds himself attracted to the veterinarian Rafe, although Rafe can't understand why. Rafe is a stutterer who has grown up thinking he is not good enough for anyone to love, including his own family. Alex appears to be happy-go-lucky and just enjoying life, but behind that smiling façade lies a life that is anything but happy. He finds that he doesn't need friendships, only bar hookups, but he's lying to himself and everyone else.
Rafe transfers his loving heart to the animals he treats. When Alex and Rafe's friends Micah and Josh go on their honeymoon, Alex agrees to keep their beloved dog and even moves into their home to care for Lucky. A near tragedy strikes, and Rafe comes to the rescue, further embedding himself in Alex's heart.
One Step Further is the sequel to Memories of the Heart, Micah and Josh's love story. I did not read Memories of the Heart first, and although that would make understanding the best friend relationship between Micah and Alex more clear, it did not interfere with my enjoyment of this book. I will now go back and read Memories because I've fallen in love with these four men and want the backstory. I hated that something came between Micah and his best friend, Alex, and want to know more about how that could happen.
One Step Further is a character-driven romance with light angst and a lot of self-questioning by the main characters. When a man's life seems just fine, and he thinks he has overcome heartaches of the past, why rock the boat? Change is not easy, but when Alex and Rafe finally give in to the emotions they are both feeling, they realize that change is what is needed. This is a great romance novel and truly exemplifies that love is love, regardless of the gender of the people involved. It also demonstrates that one person might have a partner and also a best friend, who is not his life partner. The ending of the book is totally heartwarming and was exactly what I was looking for as I read the book. A lovely story and highly recommended.
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.