Out

Out #1

by Cara Dee

“I guess I always figured coming out was something you did for friends and family, and maybe it is, but it’s personal too, you know? The person I was last night is new. I wanna get to know him.”

I had two things on my list when I arrived in Los Angeles. One, track down Henry Bennington, the uncle and guardian of my little brother’s best friend, and tell him to get his ass back to Washington. He needed to do something about his nephew, who was turning into a douchebag. And two, figure out just how non-straight I was. For the past two years, I’d had all these fantasies, and now was the time to explore them, far away from my sleepy little town.

Nowhere on this list did it say, “Get Ty’s uncle into bed and fall for him.” I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with another city either. But between brunch, making new friends, and discovering the man I was meant to be, I lost sight of the future that had once seemed pretty damn vivid. How the hell was I supposed to merge my old life and who I used to be with the new dreams Los Angeles and Henry had awakened in me?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Contemporary Romance, Family, M M Contemporary

332 pages, ebook

First published October 9, 2017

About the author

​
I'm often stoically silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there's so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex. There's a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly. Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve. Additionally, I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I'm a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, and geeking. There's time for hockey and cupcakes, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story includes all the things that make my heart go BANG: age gap, humour, friendship/family, amazing secondary characters, passionate sex, complex MCs, a bit of hurt/comfort, strong writing, and a HEA.

The icing on the cake is that Cara Dee is planning a Christmas story for Henry and Zach!



Out is my favorite Cara Dee story since Home, and you know what's awesome? Dominic and Adrian, the Home MCs, are present as secondary characters.

But that's not all! We also get to revisit Noah and Julian from Noah AND, because Santa came early this year, there is a cameo appearance by Cam and Austin from Aftermath!

If you haven't read any of those books (WHY NOT?), no worries; Out works well as a standalone.

This is a lower-angst story that's very much relationship focused. It's lust at first sight for Zach and Henry, and even though we get only Zach's first-person POV, he is a very insightful narrator and possesses a level of self-awareness that belies his 27 years. Zach really gets Henry.



Henry is also pretty good at communicating. He's the king of self-sabotage, but, hell, at least he doesn't pull away. Indeed, he tries to convince Zach that setting their relationship up to fail is a good thing.

Zach knows better of course, but how can he convince Henry that he's worth it?

"I don't want to picture my life without you."

"You don't have to."

Special shoutout goes to:

- Zach's smartass little brother; if smirking were an Olympic event, Mattie would take home the gold. All little brothers should be this supportive.

- Eagle, the fat cat, who's catnapped and made to exercise in the park. Because life is a bitch.
(The whole catnapping thing was hilarious!)

- Martin, Henry's best friend, who adopts Zach and does torture by shopping. Also, cupcakes. But don't call him a baker!

I adore this book! It's sweet, super sexy ("I'll never let you forget you're mine, boy"), and vibrant.

It made me happy. You can't ask for anything more.

[☆ Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not being the biggest fan of romances with major age gaps (Zach was 27 and Henry was 46), my biggest fear before reading this book was the dreaded "D" word.

No, not "dick!" Buncha dirty-minded ho's, I'm telling you. :- P

I'm referring to "Daddy", which was blessedly avoided in this story. Well, aside from once, when Zach's 17 y.o. brother used it teasingly on his older brother/parental figure.

After his mother's suicide, Zach had to grow up quickly, taking care of his little brother for the last 9 years, so other than his lack of experience with "the gay", his maturity played well against Henry's more experienced approach to life. They both knew how to be serious, but also how to have fun.

One thing that did strike me as odd, though, was how Henry and his best friend, Martin, were *always* using the terms Dear and Honey , like they were 80 year old pensioners. It felt off, with even the Zach's 70+ y.o. Gran sounder younger, at times.

Speaking of Martin... LOVED HER! He was one snarky bitch with a heart of gold. And the thing with the ex and the grand theft auto. Hilarious. Zach's brother, Mattie, was also an especially fun character. Plus, the "catnapping" scene. I have no words. I was truly dying.

This was a pretty racy story, with an edge of kink, which isn't my thing (at all), but it never got to the point where I was squirming in my seat, so it was fine. No nipple clips or paddles, praise Jesus! : )

But there were a couple of minor things that kept this from being a full-on 5-star read for me.

First, fifty percent of the premise of the story was Henry reconnecting with his estranged nephew, but his on-page time with Ty was extremely limited.

Plus, as the story was only told from Zach's POV, we were only briefly *told* about Henry's outings with Ty, then voila! There is a break through, Ty breaks down and, other than a few slip ups, all is right with their relationship. I would have loved to have actually *seen* them working through their issues vs. hearing sparse details second-hand.

Then second, there were so very many characters in this story with ties to Camassia, yet, not once was the link made that *both* MC's had major connections to the town, which felt like such a waste to me. I thought that was a bit of a missed opportunity to more deeply weave these two new MC's into the existing series.

The story and its accompanying HEA end on a pretty abrupt note; however, we were told that there would be an 80-page, follow-up novella, "Out for the Holidays", to be released in December, which I'm chomping at the bit to read.

Overall, I'd rate the book at a very solid and moving 4.25 stars, and I can't wait to see where the Camassia series will go next.

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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.

See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)

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[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Shhh, darling. You don't want to wake up your brother, do you? It's probably best only I know what a perfect ass-slut you are for me."

Yeeeeeeeeesssssss!

I honestly wasn't expecting this book to be my kind of dirty. I love domination games and age gaps, and the mix of sweet and extremely raunchy is just my thing. But it tends to be a little more... extreme than some people like, but this book struck just a right balance to take it to that ohmygodyes level of kink without alienating non-kink readers.

I adored this one, and not JUST for the sex, though I'll admit that the sex was a BIG part of it. I loved the coming out story, the dynamic between the two MCs, and, yes, the age gap and the difference in experience.

The plot was perfectly paced. Fast, interesting, and with really entertaining side characters. I just couldn't get enough. I felt the So-Cal heat, the luxury lifestyle, and the complex relationships. I was just there with the MCs... and THE SEX!

This is only my second Cara Dee book, and the first that I've really enjoyed. And I enjoyed the hell out of this one. The dirty talk alone makes it worth it.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars.

Being out wasn’t only reserved for sexual preference, was it? I mean, technically, it boiled down to being out as whoever you were. No hiding, no suppressing.(...)

Review soon.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this one 4 times, now, and it's always such a delight!

----------- Original Review 3 Dec 2018 ------------
4.5 Stars

​​I love the Camassia Cove series and pretty much everything else I've read by Cara Dee. No lie. I can't tell you just how excited I was to see a new book by this fabulous author and when I heard about the cameos -- I was so there! Ms Dee's writing is just amazing and I can't think of a time I haven't enjoyed spending time in the worlds she's created.

Out has so many things that just ring my bell:
Age gap ✔️
Self discovery ✔️
Sexual exploration ✔️
Smexy smexy times ✔️
Touch o' kink ✔️
Tons of feels ✔️

Special mentions for cameos:
Noah & Julian (Noah)
Cam (and a sighting of his husband and daughter) (Aftermath)
Dominic, Adrian, and Thea (Home)

And an extra special mention of my favorite chapter titles:
FUCK THE LIST. I NEED A COMING-OUT DIARY
THERE’S A TONGUE IN MY ASS
I, UH…LIPSTICK
I THINK HOLY FUCK IS ACCURATE HERE
OH, TY. OH, MARTIN. OH, FUCK
MURPHY’S LAW CAN SUCK MY DICK
HOME, SWEET WHAT THE FUCK EVER
MY ASS ISN’T HURTING
I NEED HIS ROCK HARD…REASSURANCE

The story is told entirely from Zach's POV and I loved being inside his head. He doesn't dwell on things, he doesn't fret, and I really enjoy how he approaches life. Rest assured, though, that even though we only get one POV, we're not left in the dark about Henry, or other characters, in general. I was invested in the story from the very first page. Getting to know Zach, Henry, Martin, Mattie, and Ty was a perfect way for me to spend a day.

Zach and Henry had chemistry in spades and I loved both Zach's willingness to go for it and Henry's inability to turn Zach away. There's a 19 year age gap, between them, and Henry has far more of a problem with that than Zach does. In fact, it doesn't bother Zach, at all. Zach may be new to exploring this part of himself, but he's never been a 'play the field' kind of guy and he doesn't have an indecisive bone in his body.

All the angst in their relationship comes from Henry's belief that Zach is going to want to explore with other people. Henry has some serious insecurities to overcome in this story and Zach makes him deal with his issues. Henry has a bone-deep loneliness that he almost uses like a blanket. He's been left behind and rejected before and he has trouble trusting this very amazingly good thing he has discovered with Zach. Henry wants to believe in his relationship with Zach, but he doesn't. Not really.

I enjoyed seeing their relationship go from a new exploration to something more so naturally, it was hard to to believe they were so new. Their sexy-times were hot and sweet and adventurous, especially for Zach, but he never backed down. I loved Zach's determination to convince Henry that what they had was just as real for him as it was for Henry. I loved the angst between Henry and Zach and I laughed out loud when Zach kidnapped Henry's cat.

Out is more than just about a young man coming out of his closet. It's also about learning how to escape your self-imposed prison (Henry). It's about letting who you are on the inside out for everyone to see. And I loved every moment.
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ARC of Out was generously provided, by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

[Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

|| 4.0 stars ||

I really liked this! I’m not sure what it was exactly, but something about this one worked really well for me. Maybe it’s because I genuinely liked Zach and cared about getting to see his journey of self-discovery unfold. Or maybe it’s that the writing was engaging and fun in a way that never had me bored. I don’t know, but I just liked it.

The romance was also pretty great and I loved the age-gap!
However, I do have to admit that this could have used a little more detail or depth. We never got to read from Henry’s POV, so perhaps that might be what was missing. On the other hand, I did enjoy Zach’s perspective a lot, so I wasn’t sad about it or anything.
My favourite part about their relationship was definitely Henry’s adoration for Zach and his willingness to do anything for him; it was very sweet. The bits of drama that ensued due to this were also entertaining and plenty swoon-worthy.

Anyway, like I said before, I cannot pin-point what exactly made this book such a big win for me, but it just was. I genuinely had a really good feeling while reading this.


'Camassia Cove' series:
1. Home - 4.0 stars
6. Out - 4.0 stars
7. Power Play - 2.5 stars

Novellas:
1.5. Sleepless - 3.0 stars
6.5. Out For the Holidays - 2.0 stars

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time]

DNF @ 47%

It took me at least a week to get to 47%. Within 20% I wanted to DNF. I feel like Cara Dee writes as a completely different person sometimes, with a completely different style.

I loved Home and Uncomplicated Choices in the Camassia Cove series, gave them 5 stars. But I could barely finish Noah. This book felt like Noah to me. It was awkward. The way they talked. The way they acted.

I just never connected, to the characters or the story.

And it certainly didn't help that "dear" was used 18 times and "honey" was used 10. I absolutely HATE both of those terms of endearment.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being out is more than just telling friends and family. It's a feeling.

Zach was born and raised in Camassia Cove. And once he hit 18, he was raising his eight-year-old brother. Now at 27, he feels a little nudge in his brain to get his social life started. His brother's best friend is acting more and more like a douche, and said friend has an estranged uncle in LA. Zach imagines visiting the uncle to ask for help while using LA to......experiment with the bi-curiosity that he's never been able to do anything about until now.

Girls aren't really attracting him anymore, but watching gay porn doesn't turn him on, either. He wants to figure out his attraction to men. LA can definitely help him more than Camassia Cove, he thinks.

One look at Henry, Ty's uncle, and it's game over.

He looks how a sucker-punch feels.

This story was ripe with delicious, mild kink, age gap, and (my personal favorite) intra-relationship angst.

Cara Dee is a favorite for a reason. She writes so smoothly, and so authentically. She only ever has to use one POV, and I'm IN, I'm so invested, it's crazy.

Zach was refreshing. I truly enjoyed being in his head. While he may be naïve about non-straight things, he was an eager learner in all ways.

However, wet behind the ears to gay and bi-culture doesn't mean young and naïve in all things. The student turned into the master when it came to relationships. Henry is so jaded at this point in his life that Zach was the one to teach Henry how to be in a real relationship.

I can't over-emphasize the depth that Dee went to with her character building and relationship-development. My eyes leaked twice!

Secondary characters came to life as well. Martin, Henry's best friend, is someone I want to read about in the future.

My biggest niggle was the use of cheesy endearments like "darling" and "dear." I was taken out of the story a little with each use, but I know that's simply a personal preference.

It's Zach's voice that brings this one to life. He is so honest and real.

From:

Forearm porn was happening as he folded up the sleeves of his button-down.

To thoughts so poignant, but in the simplest (re: not pretentious or prose-y) way to say them:

I'd only paid attention to the bolts of lighting, mainly because they'd stolen it, but there was something to be said for thunder, too. They rolled in slowly and took over the skies.

I'm settling on 4.5 stars for this gem, and highly recommend it. Bonus points for cameos of Noah and Julian from "Noah" and Cam from "Aftermath".

[Nazanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Zack’s twenty-seven-year-old and for two years he’s struggling what he wants; men or women! His little brother has a best friend (Ty) who recently behaves rudely/crudely. So Zack took this on himself to go to LA, find Ty’s uncle and tell him about his nephew’s behavior. But it’s a good opportunity for Zack to explore more about himself, too! Zack finds Henry (Ty’s uncle) and feels attracted to him so much! Henry has a bookstore and is forty-six-year-old. A bit old for Zack but when you’re reading the story, it’s not palpable, like at all! When Henry Came out to his parents years ago they treated him badly and banned him. But Hery’s real problem is he’s not the long-term relationship type and because Zack is so young (compared to him), he wants Zack experience everything even though without Henry!

The thing that I loved in this story was Henry and Martin’s (Henry’s friend) bickering and the dialogues between Zack and Eagle (Henry’s cat!!!)! This was a sweet read but an unsteady one for me! Sometimes my eyes glued to words and I couldn’t put it down but other times it got slow and I got bored! Told in Zack’s POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novel. All in all, I enjoyed it but not so much. Hope you like it as well!

[Barbara➰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of those books where I really don't know how to rate it. There were things l loved, such as Zach and who he was. I absolutely adored Martin! I loved Mattie and what a great kid he was and I loved their Nan. But there were things I hated, such as Henry giving Zach permission to cheat basically and not being man enough to step up and hold on to him. I hated their separation. I hated Joseph and his insistent flirting and pushing.

I also felt like there were things that were never quite fleshed out or resolved such as what happened with the grandparents. What happened with Nan and her forgetfulness? Seems Zach forgot to mention it to the nurses 🙄 . I also didn't feel like Henry's "kink" was all that kinky or explored. I've read lots worse or better as some may say 😜 . Now, if Zach had called him daddy.....

Really, it was a mixed bag for me. And I really felt like it was more a book about Zach coming out and being comfortable in his own skin than really a romance, though the romance was there. It just wasn't up front and center.

So, like I said, it's hard to rate because I did enjoy it and I will definitely be reading the Christmas novella.

[Exina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars
Actually, I have so many problems with this one, that maybe it's going to be 1 star.
Thinking about it...
Review later.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book 😎 great characters, fab chemistry and such a warm vibe. Zach is 27 going on 40 - he cares for his younger brother, his Nan and his business. Between that he notices his brothers best friend is going down a rocky path. To try and help him, Zach travels to LA to meet Henry, Ty’s uncle. Henry is 20 years older, has his own trust issues but is determined to live life on his terms. As Zach and Henry form a friendship Zach opens up about his sexuality and the fun begins. While there were lots of laughs in this book with adorable secondary characters there was also lots of emotions - vulnerability, fear and genuine worries about not being enough. Of course it’s fiction, there’s lots of money and some pseudo Cinderella moments but this was balanced by the fears we really have in life and the issues we face. I’m late to the party with this book but loved it all the same !

[.Lili. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out is the story of 27-year-old Zachary who's been raising his younger since the age of 18 after his mother's suicide. He's been comfortable in his skin until he started realizing he's attracted to men. He lives in a small town that doesn't have much room for exploring. When he feels the need to seek out his younger brother's friend's uncle, Henry, in L.A. he figures that gives him the perfect opportunity to test the waters. What he didn't count on was the uncle being his wet dream.

Some highlights:

-Zachary. I love dual POVs, but in this instance, I didn't mind only being in Zach's head. He was funny, sweet, and a tad quirky. I loved seeing the world through his eyes.

-Relationship development. Insta-lust, insta-love, I was insta-all-in!! These two had me awwing and fanning myself from one moment to the next.

-Humor. Between the chapter titles, Zach's inner monologue, and the banter I found myself smiling and laughing out loud.

-Henry. His family background will have you rooting for him, and his personality will make you fall in love with him.

-The side characters were awesome!! Please write a story for Mattie, Ty (maybe Mattie & Ty...), Martin, and even he who shall remain nameless.

-Chemistry. Dirty talk, mild age play, some edging- I mean this book was hoooot!

-Relationship angst. It wasn't overdone; it was understandable, and I liked how it was resolved.

All in all, this was a HUGE win.

It had:
-Age gap
-Mild kink
-Steam
-Self discovery

It was:
-Emotional
-Humorous
-Endearing

4.5 Highly Recommend "Out" Stars!

[Elsa Bravante · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Mientras veo cómo le pongo cuatro estrellas me sorprendo a mi misma, durante el primer 15-20% estuve a punto de darle un DNF.
La historia entre el chico joven que se está cuestionando su personalidad, que sale de ciudad pequeña, con recursos económicos limitados, y hombre gay maduro, viviendo en Los Angeles, con una situación acomodada resonaba a muchas historias ya leídas. Ni siquiera el background de ambos con pasados difíciles era muy original. Sí lo es las circunstancias de cómo se conocen, pero incluso esas circunstancias no me atraparon por poco creíbles. Y aunque, a lo largo de la historia siguen esos lugares comunes en las relaciones con age gap ya muy conocidos entre los lectores de MM (que si eres muy joven para mi, que si te vas a aburrir, que si tienes que experimentar más, que si soy tu salvador con todo mi dinero y mi experiencia), salpicado de cosas muy inverosímiles, al final los protagonistas me han terminado ganando y la historia gustando. Eso sí, hay varios aspectos que he encontrado deficientes, Henry, el MC de más edad, se queda un poco en la caricatura y el aspecto más destacado que es la relación con su sobrino queda muy en la sombra.
En fin, ha estado bien, tiene algunos momentos que he disfrutado mucho, pero tampoco creo que sea para tirar cohetes o para que quede en mi memoria de forma perenne.

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this lovely coming out story, but I got a little tired with it around 70%. I felt this book would have been better if it had been a bit shorter. I felt as if the story got dragged out a bit near the end.

Zach hasn’t been sure about his own sexuality for the past 2 years. Ever since he was 25 he suddenly realized he is probably not straight. He was just waiting for the right moment to experiment and figure some things out.

When Zack visits LA to contact the uncle of his brother’s best friend, he knows it’s the best opportunity to explore his feelings. It helps that this uncle is gay and willing to help him get acquainted with ‘the gay life’.

Henry got custody of his nephew when his brother and his wife died when the boy was 12, but he let his parents talk him into giving Ty up. Now Zach is here to tell him Ty is becoming a complete asshole and that he needs Henry to step up and come back to Camassia with him. But Henry has to wait for his parents to come back from holiday anyway, so he invites Zach to stay with him for the week.

Henry and his best friend Martin immediately take Zach under their wing. But while Henry is trying to get Zach to go out and have his first gay experience, Zach wants that with Henry, even though Henry is almost 20 years older than him...

Zach was a wonderful character. It’s been a while since I’ve read such a fearless character. He had his fears and insecurities, but he didn’t let them stop him from living his life. I especially loved how he stood up against the bigots in his store (who ended up beating him, but still, he stood up to them!).

Yes, there is angst and a break-up at 70%, but that didn’t actually bother me that much. I was totally on Zach’s side with this. Henry was being stupid, and I loved how Zach stood up to him.

But while the beginning of the story had this nice flow, by the time I got to 70% I got a little bored. That might have something to do with the fact that I really hate relationship angst, so perhaps that was it. Other people will probably feel different about it.

[Christelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Cara Dee and all her MM books of the Camassia Cove series were a hit for me, especially Home. So, it’s not easy for me to admit it, but this one didn’t work for me.
Right from the start, I was thrown out of the wagon and couldn’t find what made Cara Dee one of my favorite author.

I had a hard time to figure out the MCs, Zachary and Henry. As for the circumstances that drove them together as well as most of the characters’ backgrounds, maybe more depths, instead of lot of details of stuff (what to do in LA, the entertainment industry) or some events (stealing Eagle, the cat, or the attack on Zachary) that didn’t add anything to the romance for me imo, would have help me get more invested.

So yes, a lot of sweet or fun characters, some hot sex (but for the use of the term “boy” referring to a 27 year old character) and good banter, but all the rest left me underwhelmed. Sadly !!!

[River · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I deeply enjoyed this story. can't wait for the epilogue-novella.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

On to the favourites shelf with you !

[Claude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book? funny as hell!
Zach : a young man with such a big heart, who is raising his little brother (and by procuration his best friend too who is really a...douche ? i'm kind with him). In the beginning we see him parenting his life for Ty (Mattie's BFF), and by the process meet the man of his dreams. I really love him! The way he's so open about him, about what he wants, what he is, what he feels. An open book!!

Henry: the sexy librarian (is he really librarian?😂) and apparently one of the hottest man alive! Also a big heart for people he loves. His big problem was the trust. He doesn't trust anybody and that puts him on his guard many times in this book. It was hard to see. So happy when he gets his HEA.

Ty/Mattie: BFF or soon to be lovers ?

Best scene ever : the catnapping! Hilarious <3 (many scenes in this was hilarious in fact!)

Martin: hope to see your story soon man! So funny!

If you want a light, funny (+++) and cute story: take this.

[Michael S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a good feeling about this book, but it surpassed my expectations. I loved the Coming Out/Family Drama/Pretty Woman/Age-Gap/Coming-of-Age sort of vibe that kept it fresh and interesting from start to finish. There's really a lot going on!

Let's not forget to mention that we have some real steam here; not lacking either in feelz or in sexy time. Neither age gap nor dom/sub are kinks I consider my own, but damn if Cara Dee doesn't present them in the most appealing light. I tend to appreciate it when characters express their kinks because it can help lend texture and realism to their intimacy when done well. Real people have their own kinks, hang-ups, and preferences, so why not those in Fiction Land?

One of my favorite reads so far this fall :)

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming-out and age-gap rolled in one in the most delicious way. Virtually angst free, very cute and slightly kinky. Loved it!

Recommended.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I fell in love with Zach fairly quickly, I was often grinning like a loon while reading this. I totally want to be BFF's with Zach. And probably Martin. And Mattie...and Eagle! Lol! What can I say, I loved all the boys in this one.

'Did your cat eat another cat?' I blurted out.
Henry's face flashed with amusement. 'That's Eagle.'
'I don't think anything could make that thing fly.'

Henry is a bookstore owner living a quiet life next to his best friend. When Zach waltzes into his bookshop he doesn't know what to expect from the beautiful boy. He certainly doesn't expect a connection to his nephew who he hasn't seen in years. But Zach comes with more than one surprise for Henry.

Forearm porn was happening as he folded up the sleeves of his button-down.

Zach heads down to L.A. to 1) get in touch with Henry because his nephew is becoming a dick, and 2) explore the gay scene in L.A. to help him come to terms with his fantasies. He heads straight to the bookshop determined to chat with this wayward uncle he's looking for. Zach is blindsided when he sees Henry and discovers he's totally hot and sparks his fantasies. Things were definitely not going to plan.

Zach and Henry come together in an innocent way, to help Henry's nephew. Neither expects the force of their attraction to the other but it simmers beneath the surface. Henry invites Zach into his home and introduces him to his friends; someone who came all this way to help his nephew is clearly a big part of his life and Henry wants him to feel welcome in L.A. Zach and Henry dance around each other briefly but other than the age gap, which presents a bit of a problem, it was pretty drama free for Henry and Zach. When they finally come together, it's hot!

He fucked me ruthlessly from behind and ordered me to cover a hand over my mouth. Because his 'baby boy wouldn't shut the fuck up.'

This one was sweet, hot, and fun, check it out if you're looking for a good m/m read! I'm a big fan of Cara Dee's Daddy books and I kept hoping this one was going to take the plunge into Daddy play, it seemed like it was flirting with that line but never jumped over it. Despite my desire to jump into a bit more depravity, this book was so good, I really enjoyed it. So, Cara Dee, I'm looking forward to that epilogue/Holiday bonus story (sneak 1 "Daddy" in there and I'll love you forever!!) Lol!

**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book

[Caipi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since their mother's suicide several years ago, Zach (27) has taken on the parental role for his younger brother Mattie (17). Now, when his brother's best friend Ty turns into a complete douchebag, he decides to intervene and travels to Los Angeles to find Ty's estranged uncle and guardian Henry (46).
And then there's his other (or maybe real) reason to travel from his sleepy home town to LA. He wants to find out who he really is. He needs to know if he's maybe not as straight as he always thought, because for the last two years he has had these fantasies....

I enjoyed a great part of the book, there were some really funny and some smoking hot moments. The secondary characters were awesome! Nan, Mattie, my personal favorite Martin ("...a queen and a gossip...") and not to forget Henry's cat Eagle!
BUT I didn't feel enough of the chemistry, of the connection between Henry and Zach to make it a really awesome read for me. I think my main problem was that I didn't really get Henry. This handsome bookstore owner, with a soulful voice and warm eyes, who cried when he looked at Ty's on social media uploaded birthday party photos, who seemed insecure in some way. And then he turned out to be this slightly kinky dominant, who called Zach his baby boy.
And the whole story set-up about Ty? I don't know, but most of it was just too unrealistic for me.

3,5 stars

[Lisazj1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. This was one of those perfect Cara Dee books. Wonderful, likable everyday MCs with great personalities, wrapped up in delicious sweet, hot chemistry. Terrific secondaries that add so much to the story *and I’m totally counting Eagle here, LOL* in addition to the bonds of friendship & family that always plays such an important part of her stories, both the kind you’re born with and the ones you choose for yourself. Mix in just a bit of angst to add a little tension and I had everything I could want in a romance.

Really love this world Cara has created in Camassia Cove, and I sincerely enjoy getting to see previous well loved characters become a part of the new MCs lives. This is becoming one of my favorite book-places to spend time in.

[Ky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing I like most about Cara Dee's books is that her characters excist in a society and don't live alone in a bubble. They are fathers, friends, sons, co-workers, casual aquantances, brothers, cousins. There is the element of the family in many of her books and there are strong bonds between the members.

"Out" is no exception. The MCs have a lot of people to think about when making decisions. There are brothers and nephews and friends and a grandmother who likes to google curse words.

Zach, in particular, has been practically a parent for his brother from a very young age due to their family situation. He was forced to grow up and be responsible when he was just a kid himself. As a result he had to skip out on a lot of dreams and aspirations about his future. Now that his brother is just one year away from finishing high school, he feels it's time to do things about himself for a change.

While Zach was in LA, mainly to talk to Henry about his nephew, he decided it was his time. His time to experience new things, his time to explore, his time to live. And, in his quest to find himself, he fell in love with both the city and Henry.

"It wasn't just LA that was the drug. It was Henry too."

The pace of the story was pretty fast with everything in LA happening in three short weeks, but the events of the last part of the book made the two of them having a future believable. There was a big fight that had to be there so they could face insecurities and seriously talk about what each wanted out of their relationship. During that fight Zach acted immaturely, not answering his phone and practically ghosting Henry. He also did something while he was furious that I found pretty funny mainly because it was pretty surreal, he didn't mean any harm by it and he regretted it immediately.

Since Zach and Herny have a social circle it is natural that this book has a lot of secondary characters. Most of them have their own books and even though I haven't read all of them, I didn't have a problem following the story. Aside from previous characters making guest appearances here, there are quite a few that we meet for the first time.

Martin, Henry's best friend, is one f them. He had a loud presence whenever he was in a scene, he was a sweetheart and hugely valued his friends. He took Zach under his wing from the moment he met him and was determined to give him the best LA experience he could; taking him places, giving him a makeover, buying him stuff, introducing him to people.

Another friend of Henry's, Joseph, was not so easy to like. He had a huge history with Henry but his behavior kind of frustrated me. It didn't seem like he was a very good friend to him. There was no real conclusion to this side plot but there is a short holiday story coming later in the year where we get Zach and Henry again so maybe we'll get a closure there.

Eagle on the other hand was a good friend. He liked to keep his distance and usually hung out in the office but he was Henry's. Did I say he was a cat? An overweight, grumpy furrball that hissed at everyone. Zach had some problems with him at first but they were able to overcome them.

Mattie and Ty were good additions to the story. Very different from each other but the best of friends. Mattie was Zach's kid brother and his character showed how much the lack of parents and money had affected him too. Despite Zach's efforts to provide the best he could for his brother and let him live his childhood, Mattie had grown up too before it was time. He was mature and aware of his place in the world. He had an excellent relationship with his brother where Zach was both a parent and a friend.

Ty was a complex and very wounded character. When he finally cracked and opened up to Henry my heart went to him. He had a messed up way of thinking but he had been through so much at such a young age that I can't jundge him for it. He needed Henry in his life even more than any of them had thought at the beginning.

I'm counting the days for the holiday short so I can see Zach and Henry again along with all their friends and family! For now though, the next thing I'm reading by Cara Dee will probably be "Noah". He and Julian were intriguing characters and I can't wait to find out their story.




This review has been cross-posted on The Novel Approach Reviews.

*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via The Novel Approach Reviews in exchange for an honest review. *

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD. I LOVED IT.
I might be doing some babbling here as I am completely under this book charms.
This was just the perfect book I needed in this shitty time.

It was fresh. It was pure. It was funny. It was LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Totally angst-free. I completely fell in love with Zach and Henry. They were so perfect. Their relationship was so flawless. Even when it weren't. They handled it so perfectly.

Honestly, I could go on like that for hours. I really did loved this story.
It put so much warm feelings in my heart.



The secondary characters were just as perfect. HUGE SHOUTOUT to Martin who was hilarious
Mattie was adorable too.

Zach (27) knows from a couple of years that he might not be as straight as he thought. Then again, he had to be the adult from an early age as his father bailed quickly and his mother had depression and ended up killing herself. He had to take care of his little brother and himself. So no time really to explore his sexuality.
Until now.
Zach was just so perfect, the way he is presented. He was just so aware of himself and so open and mature and ready for everything even when it scared him. It was just impossible not to love him

Henry (46) live out & proud in LA. Well, Out & Proud NOW. Put he came out of the closet pretty late because of his shitty parents who disowned him as soon as he did... He lost his brother a few years prior and that resulted to him getting guardianship of his nephew Tyler.
Of course, said shitty parents interfered and Henry had to reluctantly left Tyler to them. Now Ty hates everyone and is quickly becoming an asshole.
Fortunately, his best friend is Mattie and Zach decided to intervened and seek out Ty's uncle to help put some sense into the troubled teenager...

Et voilà. Love enter the bookshop and never leaves...



Cara Dee is a go-to author for me since I read Noah and this one just confirmed how much I love her stories.
I might wait a little before starting the new book as I really need to stay in the happy bubble this book put me in.

[monika · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - 61%

[dammit, liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author, and I loved it. Henry is great, but I especially liked Zach. Other than the scorching hot sex scenes and dirty talk, my favorite thing about this (and Noah, the other one I've read) is the way she portrays attitudes about sex and sexuality. Zach realized that he was probably not straight, and decided to put himself out there when the time was right and he felt comfortable. No self loathing or drama about it- he was confident and had a blast. He knew what he wanted and rolled with it, even though it was different for him.

I loved the intensity of Zach and Henry's connection. These two were fire together. The dirty talking, the way they couldn't keep their hands off each other, and they way they came to genuinely care about one another in the short time they had. And again, the dirty talk...Cara Dee is a master at this. So hot.

Things were going perfectly for me until the last 25% or so of the book. There was nothing objectively wrong with it, it just went from keeping me glued to every word to losing my attention a bit. I found myself skimming, maybe because it didn't have the level of tension the rest of it did. I have no problem with the 75% drama formula and figured it was coming, and I understand why it happened. Sort of. I guess at that point I was like "eh okay talk to each other and let's get on with it." But overall it wasn't enough to take away from the fact that I really loved this book, the style of writing, the characters, and did I mention the dirty talk? Because the dirty talk.

[Emily Seelye · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Zachary started questioning his sexuality 2 years ago, but hadn't felt comfortable exploring his attraction to men because of where he lives. When his brother's friend gets out of hand, he decides to track down his gay uncle in LA. He never expected to be attracted to the older man.

Henry was more than willing to reconnect with his nephew and help Zach explore his gayness. He moves Zach into his apartment and they have a lot of fun in between the sheets.

I was enjoying the story until Zach had to return to the real world. Henry, who didn't trust that the relationship would last, said something that hurt him and ruined everything.

They do eventually get back together, which I like, but not the event that instigated their reconciliation.

This was my favorite since Noah, and aside from the relationship drama and some homophobia, it was a happier read.

This book does feature cameos from Noah, Julian and their LA friends, and Dominic from Homeless.

Recommended

*ARC provided by author