New Release! Review & Excerpt: Roommate by Sarina Bowen

January 12, 2021 Angela LGBTQ, Reviews, Romance

New Release! Review & Excerpt: Roommate by Sarina BowenRoommate by Sarina Bowen
Published by Tuxbury Publishing LLC on January 12, 2021
Pages: 303
Format: ARC
Genres: LGBTQ, Romance
four-half-stars

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Wanted: One roommate to share a 3-bedroom house, split the rent, and ideally not be the guy I can’t stop thinking about.
I’m a man with too many secrets, so the last thing I need is a new roommate with a sexy smile and blue eyes that see right through me. Eight years ago, Roderick left town after high school. We’re not friends. I owe him nothing. But back then, I let one of my secrets slip, and he’s the only one who noticed. Part of me knows I should run far, far away. But the other part wants him to come upstairs and spend the night. But if I let him in, I could lose everything.

Seeking: A room to rent in town. I’m tidy, have no pets, and I will feed you homemade bread.
I should probably add: Gay AF, and has no filter. It’s no wonder my new landlord is so wary of me. A smarter man would ignore those hot glances from Kieran Shipley. The broody lumberjack wants more from me than another homemade pretzel, but if I push my luck, I’ll end up back on the street.Too bad I’ve never been smart with my heart ...

Roommate by Sarina Bowen header

I keep falling more and more in love with the True North world that Sarina Bowen has created. The charming Vermont location, the close-knit Shipley clan, the farm life, and the food — THE FOOD!!! — keep me coming back for more. Roommate is about an extended member of the Shipley family, Kieran.

I expected this to be a naughty and fun story, but it’s actually quite touching. I think of it as MM lite — heartwarming, sweet, and sexy without being overly erotic. It’s perfect for newbies who are curious about the MM romance genre.

Roommate by Sarina Bowen teaser

Roderick Waites has hit rock bottom by the time he returns to his hometown, and is so starved for affection that it broke my heart. I respected his pride and admired his fierce determination to overcome his circumstances. I had a huge soft spot for Kieran Shipley as well. He is kind, quiet, and lost, and I hated the way his family takes him for granted. I just wanted to give both of them endless hugs.

If the way to my heart is through my stomach, then Roderick owns every inch of me due to his baking prowess alone. His cooking lessons with Kieran are so cute. The two men are total opposites, which makes them all the more interesting as a couple. Roderick is Mr. Personality whereas Kieran is introverted. Roderick delights in sharing his creations with others, but Kieran keeps his talent hidden. Roderick is an out and proud gay man. Kieran is slowly trying to figure out his sexuality. I feared the bulk of the book would be about Kieran wanting to stay in the closet, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

Fans of the True North series will be glad to be reunited with Zara, Audrey, and Griffin. Whenever they are around, fun times are sure to follow. Roommate is simply a lovely treat.

Recommended for fans of:
M/M romance
Coffee shops
Cooking
Farms

** I received an early copy to voluntarily read and review. **

Roommate teaser

Excerpt from Roommate

Back at home, I do all the chores and then some.

First I put the cows in the north pasture. Moving cows is easy enough in good weather. It only requires me to move the portable fence and wave them through the opening. “Go on, enjoy,” I say as they file past me eagerly. Our herd is grass fed, and they don’t need to be asked twice. The long, seedy grass and corn stalks I’m offering are like a recently freshened, all-you-can-eat buffet.

Let’s face it—the cows are easier to handle than any of my family members. They go where they’re needed, no questions asked. But my dog—Rexie—gives the cows a nice loud woof just to pretend he’s working hard.

After the cow parade, I close up the fence and turn the electricity on. After that, I spend forty-five minutes raking cow shit out of the lower farmyard in the dark.

It’s boring drudge work, and my mind starts to wander. And, fuck, it wanders right to Roderick Waites—the guy who climbed out of a blue Volkswagen and right back into my brain.

I wish I could say I haven’t thought about him since high school, but that would be a lie. And if I were a more spiritual person, I’d probably interpret Roderick’s reappearance in town as a sign. A wakeup call.

Nobody knows all the tangled things in my brain, but for a split second when I was a teenager, Roderick came close to learning one of my biggest secrets.

The first time I saw him on his knees in front of another guy, it was an accident.

It was autumn then, too. I’d been at a high school football game. It was chilly that night and, last second before leaving for the game, I’d grabbed my dad’s jacket from the hook by the door. After shoving my hands into the pockets while standing on the windy sidelines, I’d found a flask of whiskey. My father must have last worn the jacket when he was sitting out in the deer blind with his pals. Bonus.

But, of course, I’d had to sneak around to find a place to take a taste.

Leaving the crowd and the game, I ducked inside the door to the school’s gym. Under the cover of the bleachers, I drew out my dad’s flask, and unscrewed the top. Just as I raised it to my lips, I froze at the sound of whispered voices. Whoever was speaking had entered the gym at the other end of the bleachers.

Their shadowy figures weren’t easily visible. But I guessed it was a couple looking for a little privacy for a make-out session. And since a couple sneaking off together wasn’t a threat to me, I stood my ground.

I took a swallow of my father’s hooch. My first sip wasn’t life-changing—it burned going down and made my eyes water—it’s what happened next that changed everything.

After screwing the lid on the flask and pocketing it, I ducked out of the gym and into the hallway. Feeling nosy, I walked toward the gym’s other entrance, noiseless in my Nikes. When I reached the door, I eased into a position that allowed me to spy on the couple I’d heard whispering to each other. They were silent now, and I wanted to know why.

When I saw who it was, I swear my heart almost stopped. A varsity soccer player—Jared Harvey—stood beneath the bleachers, bracing his hands on a tread overhead. Roderick Waites knelt in front of him, unzipping Jared’s jeans.

You can bet I didn’t even blink for the next five minutes…

 

Roommate available now!

Grab your copy Roommate!

 https://shor.by/roommate

four-half-stars

About Sarina Bowen

author Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen is the award-winning author of more than thirty contemporary novels. She has hit the USA Today bestseller’s list nineteen times and counting. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.

Sarina is a New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country since the 1760s. Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.

Sarina’s books are published in over a dozen languages on five continents.


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One response to “New Release! Review & Excerpt: Roommate by Sarina Bowen

  1. This truly was a lovely treat. I enjoyed reading it. It wasn’t quite 5 stars for me because Jamie & Wes hold that spot and it’s a tough one to achieve after them.