Off Balance

Painted Bay #1

by Jay Hogan

When JUDAH MADDEN flees his tiny suffocating home-town in New Zealand, for the dream of international ballet stardom, he never intends coming back. Not to Painted Bay. Not to his family’s struggling mussel farm. Not to his jerk of a brother. Not with his entire life plan in shreds. And certainly not into the tempting arms of MORGAN WIPENE, the older, ruggedly handsome fisheries officer who seems determined to screw with Judah’s intention to wallow in peace.

But dreams are fickle things. Shatter them and it’s hard to pick up the pieces. Hard to believe. Hard to start again.

But the hardest thing of all? Finding the courage to trust in love and build a new dream where you least expected it.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Disability, LGBT, Audiobook, Sports

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2020

About the author

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.

Join my reader group to keep up with my news.
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You can also find me at:
https://www.jayhoganauthor.com where you can buy my audiobooks direct at a discount.

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Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

I've been reading Jay Hogan for some time now, but she really hit her stride with Off Balance. Though it tops out at nearly 400 pages, it is a beautifully written, powerful romance, and it was exactly the kind of book I love to read.

I have a deep love of romance books that feature characters living with a chronic illness or a disability. Working in the medical field, I know a lot about rare diseases, but this book was my first experience with Ménière’s disease. I found Judah to be an extremely compelling MC, and his struggle to find his place and purpose after his dance career was ruined by the inner ear disorder was both moving and fascinating to read about.

I also loved Morgan and how he complemented Judah. He didn't run away from his feelings, and I adored how communicative and responsive he was with Judah. I liked how the author weighed Morgan's memories and time spent with his wife with his new feelings for Judah, and I think Jay Hogan struck the perfect balance in the story.

Their romance was, gah, just so good! Yes, there was a lot of initial attraction, but it built-up over time in a gorgeous way. There wasn't any manufactured drama or silly misunderstandings, and it felt extremely real and special.

I was meh about the mystery aspect of the book, and I often think the author tries to cram suspense into her contemporaries unnecessarily, but it for sure gave a little momentum to the end of a long book. I would have been happy with just a relationship-focused contemporary, but I got enough of that to make me very happy.

Jay Hogan wrote her strongest book to date with Off Balance. It felt perfectly New Zealand-y, just like her other stories, and like a great, small town romance. I adored it, and I can't wait to read more in this sure to be special series.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can love change the world? Is it…possible?
Absolutely! And in the small coastal New Zealand town of Painted Bay, it did. This story blew me away. I’m still dipping my toes into Hogan’s wonderful writing but now I want to dive straight in and immerse myself completely. I’m not ready to let them go. There is so much heart in this book. But not only are the feels in full effect but it’s passionate, lively, and overflowing with courage and hope. I believe courage and hope go hand-in-hand. You must be brave to dream and daring to trust. Both Judah and Morgan have each in spades, they just needed someone to nudge them along the path to reclaim their happiness. They bump, tap, poke, and jab…it was utterly breathtaking.

What's to like: When a medical tragedy strikes Judah his world comes crashing down. His sole purpose in life is dancing. Ménière’s disease obliterates his professional dancing career and there’s no choice but for him to return to his hometown. He brought every piece of rubble remaining of his intricately built world and intends on hiding below them. He has no intention of even thinking of rebuilding and every plan to hide beneath the debris. Morgan has been in Painted Bay for five years but Judah has been gone nearly twice as long. And when the nosy fisheries officer snags Judah’s attention…something shifts. And this my friends, is where the going gets good!

What's to love: Morgan, oh Morgan, how do I love thee? With all my heart! Judah is a lucky guy but then, I know Morgan would say just the opposite. Judah is fabulous in his own way but I’m always a sucker for a man in a uniform. The timing is all wrong. Neither are looking or prepared for a relationship. Yet, when fate presents you with a precious gift, a once in a lifetime gift or in Morgan’s case, twice, there’s no choice but to grab on with both hands and never let go. Morgan is solid with a tender heart, still recovering from losing his wife 5 years prior. She was the light of his life and still flickers from time to time. I loved how Morgan handled tough situations. He was clear and honest, voicing his opinions and feelings from the start. No wiggle room for misunderstandings. I loved how he saw past the prickly facade and straight into the sensational core of Judah Madden. I loved how he discovered his reset button. Yep, he totally has one. I loved their fierce magnetism and racy *gulp* passion. I loved toe-top dancing, facials, and ballet tights. I loved family dinners and love found in the sidelines. I loved how this amazing small town focused on “Judah-now”, not “Judah-before”. Had can be a painful word…so why not concentrate on have? Yeah, that’s much better.
Can you tell I just…loved it? You really have to get this one!

Oh, one more thing! Did you spy that cover? Gorgeous!

Beware of: Rock bottom can be monstrous and full of monsters. Family can be endearing and maddening, occasionally at the same time. And love so strong, I can feel the tremors of their aftershocks across the world.

This book is for: Anyone interested in witnessing a remarkable counterbalance to lost dreams and the beauty of fresh wishes becoming reality…this is exactly what you need. Book two…I can’t wait for you!

Book UNfunk

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE TEARING OF BALLET TIGHTS AND THE LEG ON THE WALL SEX POSITION GOT ME HOT AND BOVVERED NGL 🥵🥵🥵

You know when you just love a book and it's hard to explain why?
This is one of those times.
It's just a beautiful small town romance, and Jay Hogan's writing just always interests me.
It's like she finds a simple concept and story idea, and just nails it instead of over complicating it?
There's a lot of hurt here, and the healing that comes after that we all love and deserve.

The best parts by far though:
-THE FLIRTING AND THEIR LAUGHS TOGETHER OOOOOFT, NO WONDER THESE TWO WERE SWORDS UP FOR EACHOTHER.
-How charmingly and subtly funny this book can be.
-HOW PATIENT AND COMMUNICATIVE MR MORGAN WAS. Ugh. We love a communicative King 🫅🏼
-The inner monologues/conversations feel real? Sometimes the shit they think in their heads is super unhinged or odd but like... as human beings so are we?
-Even though I hated our MC's cunt brother the whole book, I actually enjoyed his redemption and am excited to see him in book 2 hehehe.

As someone who's currently struggling with inner ear issues and loss of balance, my heart hurt extra for Judah, and when he started coming back to himself, working out life around his disease, finishes licking his wounds, and bringing his sassy attitude to the front... I WAS EXTRA SAT.




A WITCHES KISS IS WHEN YOUR KNOB TOUCHES THE INSIDE OF THE TOILET WHEN YOUR SITTING DOWN.
I LEARNED THIS BECAUSE OF THIS BOOK, SO YOU CAN ALL LEARN THIS TOO
Ur welcome xoxo

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense and really beautiful. The book strikes a wonderful balance in dealing with Judah and Morgan's tragedies. It is sad and causes you to cry but not so much that it completely drags you down. It's about getting up when you've sunk into a deep hole. The courage to still follow your dreams even if they can't be fulfilled to the same extent as before.
I am honestly impressed. A nice way of the author to deal with the subject.
I love the humor of the characters, the banter and the incredible chemistry.
They have so much attraction to each other but carry so much insecurity.

Like Morgan would be remotely interested in someone as fucked up as me. For a quick fuck? Sure. For more than that? He’d have to be a raging masochist. 🌸🌹🌸

Complicated had taken a sharp turn into thorny and I was apparently fine with it. 🤩💜🤩

I was so extremely happy that they talk seriously about everything. Well, to the point where they do it less, but it's ok, a little tension has to come from somewhere. It wasn't too much of a stretch, thankfully.
The sex ... off the charts

I didn’t know what was hotter. The fact he drove me like he owned me in the kiss? Or the fact he gave himself over to me when he needed to be cared for? Fucking addictive. 😍😍😍

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a simple fact, I absolutely love Jay Hogan's writing. It doesn't matter what she turns her hand to, I feel absolutely drawn into the world she creates and the lives of the characters she's writing about.

Here it's a story which affected me deep in my gut, it's full of hurt/comfort, it's full of suppressed emotions, it's got chemistry which not only rockets off the charts but which wraps you up in all the feels of a fluffy blanket.

There's a side order of suspense plot, a whole load of small town vibes with interesting and intriguing characters I hope are going to feature in the next book and such a sense of place. New Zealand has a unique vibe to it which Jay nails every single time.

As for the main plot, as someone who danced ballet, tap and contemporary dance (although never of a level to do so professionally), Judah's heartbreaking diagnosis with Ménière' Disease had my heart cracking in two because the pain of what he lost is palpable.

Morgan's also nursing his own pain, a widower, he's still missing his wife Sally, although he's managed to move on from the numbing loss of her death five years earlier.

The amazing way these men provide both healing and support to each other, without even really doing so consciously, is so beautifully depicted in this book.

I loved everything about their friendship, their amazing sexual and emotional connections and the way they were both determined to do the best for the other.

Do yourselves a favour and pick up this book, especially if you've never read Jay before, then go grab her back catalogue, I promise it's worth it.

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

~3.5~

I have mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand, I loved the small, picturesque New Zealand town setting, with boats, small shops, and friendly (if snoopy) people.

I also really liked both MCs:

Morgan is a fisheries officer and bisexual widower who falls for Judah before he even knows Judah's name. Morgan takes his job seriously and loves the small town life, even if he is a little lonely. He still grieves his late wife but is open to life's possibilities.

Judah is a wounded (but still sassy) dancer, his ballet career ended by a sudden onset of Meniere's disease, a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe vertigo. (I worked with a woman who has Meniere's, and it's no joke.) Hogan doesn't shy away from showing the crippling effects of the disease and how it has changed Judah's future and psyche.

On the other hand, despite the complex characters, sexy AF interactions between Morgan and Judah, true-to-life dialogue (Hogan does an amazing job with the nuances of conversation), and interesting secondary characters, I was mildly bored through much of the story.

There were far too many tortured monologues for my liking, and imo the poaching mystery plot was unnecessary, mostly serving as a vehicle for the dramatic scene involving the MCs at the end.

I skimmed through some of the chapters, since not much happened to move the story along.

I've had similar reactions to other Jay Hogan books. I'm not knocking the artistry of her work, but her stories are words on top of words surrounded by more words, with extra words thrown in for good measure. This book could have been whittled down by 30 percent and been the better for it.

Off Balance ends with an endearing HEA that put a big smile on my face. I will check out book 2 in the hopes of learning more about Kane and Teddy.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 4 Stars

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read May 2021
Still loved this.

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I liked this more than I thought I would.

When Judah suddenly has a vertigo attack during an important ballet performance, he finds out he has Meniere’s disease. Now his entire career is over in a heartbeat. He has worked to become a very successful ballet dancer for almost his entire life. But now he has to return home to help his brother and their mother with the mussel farm.

But home is not a good place for him. It’s the place where Judah has been severely bullied for years when he was younger. Even his brother seems to hate him.

But then there is Morgan, the fisheries officer he encounters one night on the pier, who turns out is friends with Judah’s brother.

Morgan and Judah agree that despite the obvious attraction they should try to be friends. Judah isn’t in a place in his life right now to start anything. And even though Morgan is, Morgan agrees to be friends.

But it’s not long before they both acknowledge that friendship is harder than they thought when they obviously both want more…

I really liked these guys. Judah was a bit of an asshole at first, but it was clear from the start that it was just a defense mechanism and that he had a had time coping with the Meniere’s and how it affected everything in his life.

Morgan had this solid presence that Judah really needed in his life. I thought they were perfect for each other.

I did think there were too many sex scenes. But I solved that by simply skimming them.

Overall this was a lovely romance with men who talk about things, no unnecessary angst, and a lot of lovely hurt/comfort.

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this book filled my swooning reserves to the max, in danger of overflowing 🫠 🩰 🌈✨

The balance between reality, love, hotness, family, friends, challenges, changes, banter, angst, tears, choices, makeup, hickeys, leggins, furry asses, good memories, making peace, redemption, challenges, forgiving, never forgetting, overcoming, and a future was perfect. I love it. Judah and Morgan will stay with me.

I struggled a bit in the beginning to connect with them, there was a lot of verbal sparring with everyone, and it would be more important for character building seeing Judah’s first month's adaptation. We arrive in the story when he's most frustrated and down, so it’s hard to relate to his struggles.The long inner dialogues, Sally’s thoughts were kept at bay from them… but not for long.

Leroy can fuck off.

What a kiss 🥵🥵🥵🥵
Fuck, look at you.” He lifted a thumb to graze my lips.
I flicked out my tongue and caught it in passing, and he was back in my face in an instant, plunging his tongue into my mouth while I gave as good as I got. It was ridiculously hot. Fucking incendiary. And I’d never been kissed like it.

The sex… I was on the verge of instant combustion so many times 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥… the dirty talk is 🤯 Judah jfc, poor morgan is going to burn, the way they told themselves their preferences *melting dead hot*
Their tattoos💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Their dynamic is off the charts, apart from some cringe mirror situation, it was so so hot. I love bossy judah, and I love Morgan just letting go.

“You undo me, Morgan, in so many, many ways. You’re absolutely fucking perfect for me.”🥹🫠❤️

Leroy can fuck off.

I know that Judah's bad temper comes from years of survival, first in adolescence and surviving his homophobic brother and friends, and then in the competitive world of ballet where a friend is also the enemy. and seeing him break down little by little, open his heart and let love in was beautiful to read and feel.

Morgan... the stability he creates, the way he ensures what he wants and without a doubt... he is the calm in the storm that is Judah. And at the same time he finds himself... without ever disrespecting Sally (who sounds like an amazing woman btw).

Leroy can fuck off and die, maybe just fuck off and not die… what a jerk. The wake up call was seeing a drop attack from Judah…. Like the other stuff was just being spoiled as usual. I don’t know what to think about their parents, and the way they treated them was so different. The college loan was a blow for me…

All the doubts, while they hurt, I think it’s very realistic, for both. Their fears are real and just relatable to their issues. It’s a scary prognosis and not an easy one…

Judah relationship with Hannah was just the sweetest thing ever… their dance 🩰 🌈

We even had a bit of action in the plot, which gave this book an extra point.

This ending gave me so many fuzzy feelings. I'm crying with so much happiness, warmth and knowing that there are people like this, who can overcome their obstacles without ignoring them. Becoming better people and bringing happiness to those around them. There were some issues left unaddressed, or that deserved better resolution, but you know what? I choose life and happy endings ❤️

“Morgan pulled back a little and cupped my face. “I hope there’s still a place for me in that bright future of yours? Because I love you, Judah Madden. And I don’t need anything more from you than that.”
Oh god, this man. I leaned in for a soft kiss. “You don’t need a part in that future, baby. You are that future, my future, our family’s future.” I rubbed my cheek against his beard. “But right now there’s something important I think you’ve forgotten.”
His brows crunched.
I licked a path across his lips. “Bookmarks, sweetheart. Bookmarks.”
His mouth curved up in a wicked smile and he disappeared under the sheet.”

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely book. I particularly loved the tiny coastal town in New Zealand. Jay Hogan really has a talent for creating a story with not only a great plot but also a beautiful setting.

Judah, poor baby boy Judah, who was finally living his dream after so many years of hard work, was dancing to his heart's content in Boston; he was suddenly diagnosed with a disease that, to be perfectly honest, sounds terrifying AF. But for someone whose job is to literally have perfect balance, I can't imagine the loss and how scary something like that must be.

Judah ends up having to move back home to NZ and ends up working in the finally business with a mom who is quite frankly overbearing and a brother who is full of hatred and unfairly allocated resentment. Like, I get that their parents weren't equal with both of them, but that didn't justify Leroy being a dick, nor was it Judah’s fault.

Morgan, on his part, is finally coming out of the grief and sadness of losing his wife and is hit with Judah; he was definitely not expecting that. There is a bit of family drama due to Judah being sick and some insecurity regarding their relationship, but I still thought the way they came about growing it and how they fell in love was super cute.

There was a random subplot of some evil poachers that I thought was weird and randomly incorporated into the story that I wasn't sure was needed, but like what do I know? I still had a great time and will continue to read books by this author. I need more fictional New Zealand in my life.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a Jay Hogan book because the New Zealand settings always sound so beautiful and they're so easy to visualise as you're reading.

Judah was so easy for me to relate to with his Meniere's Disease. I have auditory issues and I often get vertigo and dizziness that impacts my daily life, so it was great to see a character finding a way to live the life he wanted despite the health issues he's facing. I have no idea how he wears tights so often though, they were the absolute worst part of my school uniform and you couldn't pay me to get back in them now 😂

Morgan was really sweet and I'm pretty jealous of his vegetable garden because I would love to have one of my own, but I am like the touch of death for plants 😂 I liked how his grief didn't overpower his story arc, and that his previous relationship also wasn't treated as though it hadn't been equally important to him.

The small town setting was really cute, and it was nice to see where Terry's story started - I've already read his book - and to see how Hannah got into dancing.

Looking forward to the rest of the series because Leroy has definitely been an abrasive character so far, so I'm keen to see how his HEA comes about. Kane is also intriguing and I'm very interested to see his redemption story.

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HRCYED2: Last Ten Years / Around The World

[Papie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Judah is a brilliant ballet dancer who gets Meniere's disease and loses everything. He comes back from Boston to Painted Bay, New Zealand, working for his brother and licking his wounds. He meets hot AF Morgan, who moved to Painted Bay after losing his wife 5 years ago. Their attraction is intense and immediate. I loved these two together! Their relationship is strong and honest, no miscommunications or unnecessary drama.

The secondary characters in this book were very well depicted and felt real. I especially liked the difficult relationship between Judah and his brother, it felt so raw and honest. Families are hard. I really liked Cora and Martha, and Terry and Hannah.

And the sex? Damn. Judah is a sex beast, and I didn't expect that. And Morgan was amazing and sexy and dreamy.

The only thing was that it dragged a bit for me in the end, although the criminal aspect picked up then and made it more entertaining.

I'm very curious about some of the other characters (Kane, and also Terry's mystery date, I really want it to be Kane or Leroy), and I can't wait for the next in the series. It was my first book by Jay Hogan, and definitely not my last!

[oshiiy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️ I always had a thing for dancers and musicians in my fictional world, and I found this book nowhere and read it.

I liked Morgan and Judah together! they were such a great couple that had incredible chemistry which was well developed and well progressed.

Morgan was a fisheries officer and a widower. There was a ten-year age gap between Morgan and Judah. Morgan was such a carebear for Judah.

Judah has been suffering from Meniere's disease and had to say goodbye to his ballet dancing career because of the said disease. To have to deal with this godforsaken town, Painted Bay on top of everything made Judah lose every hope about his future, and that made him a grumpy guy at 25.

All of a sudden, Morgan entered Judah's life like a lifeline, and gone was Judah's self-loathing and the snark, and in its place sexy, an intriguing guy who was still searching for hope to survive.

“Morgan was a perfect fit for the hole in my life that I didn’t even know I had.”

I thought Morgan was too good to be true, but I can't blame Judah smitten in love with him.

Things I disliked

There were way more than inner monologues in the book. It was really annoying, boring AF, and I flew through some chapters to get the better part. Not to mention the beginning of the book almost made me DNF it too.
The author made a great deal of effort to describe Morgan's appearance multiple times. Things like he has a beard, it's trimmed. He has a pair of dimples that when he smiles it drive Judah crazy. He drives a Toyota Hilux, and so on. I should say it was annoying AF too.
And there was some unnecessary mystery or investigation drama that I found myself was irritated by it too.

Other than that, this was such a great book where two MCs fall hard for each other and get their HEA.

[Kaity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread/Relisten: November 2023

Judah got annoying at times, but I loved Morgan and Hannah!

Now to reread Leroy’s book or just skip straight to Kane’s…

Original Read/Listen: August 2022
Audio: 5 stars! Can be found on Scribd/Everand
Book: 4 stars

I had friends over this weekend so couldn’t finish this until today. But man oh man I loved this book! Judah and Morgan! What a couple, and Morgan was a literal saint he was patient and kind and caring and I loved him. And Judah was a spark that helped light Morgan back up after 5 years since his wife’s passing.

I am excited to see where book two with Leroy and Fox goes since Leroy didn’t give off interested in the peen vibes haha so we will see what happens in this book! Plus with Gary Furlong narrating this is a go to series for sure!

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

4,5 stars

Fab and very fitting title.
LOVELY cover pic.
Two very sympathetic and engaging MCs.
An age gap of 10 years (25/35).
Medical issues.
Clever wit and banter.
Really loveable secondary characters.
And all that chest hair! Oh Morgan, you caused me quite a heart flutter!

This ticked so many different boxes for me.

Morgan’s definitely in the top three for this year’s Mr. Nice Guy Award in my books! What a stellar guy!
And sassy, effeminate Judah is as engaging. What he’s going through is just heart-breaking. No wonder he’s in a bad place. I’d never heard of Meniere’s disease and how debilitating it is.

I thoroughly enjoyed these guys and their windy road to a HEA. With Judah’s future up in the air and Morgan’s uncertainty if he’s ready for another serious emotional commitment, neither really wants a relationship. I liked that they try to be really sensible about their attraction to each other, but when lightning strikes it’s hard to ignore!

I do wonder though why Jay Hogan usually throws a criminal element into her plots. I’ve read a few books by her, and it usually turns up at some point. Not sure it was necessary here.

I also have to say that Morgan and Judah’s relationship advances at super speed and did feel a bit insta-everything. Saying that – I did love these guys a lot together and the sizzle between them was spitting and crackling all the way!

I agree with some other readers – for me this is Jay Hogan’s best book to date.
Looking forward to the next in the series.

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 I wish this book ended at 75% stars

“I’m not sure about this,” he panted, “but I suspect that molesting the local fisheries officer in the community centre car park, while wearing a royal crown, tights, and sporting an erection the size of Kilimanjaro, wouldn’t be considered appropriate behaviour.”

I geniusly don’t understand what happened. I’m a massive fan of Jay Hogan, I have read and mostly loved all of her books before and I adore her writting style. I don’t get it, I was ADORING this. All was so smooth sailing, it was loveling making its way to a five stars and on my favourite book of the year list. Judah and Morgan were so fucking good together. The sex scenes were brillant, their chemestry was off the charts. Loved the banter between them, and the humour was so so good. They had brillant communication, they talked about everything. They were so fucking solid together and they had all the ingredients of a star couple and then 75% hit and all went down hill... so down and i’m really bummed about it.

I’m removing .25 stars from the 5 stars rating I would have given this book if it ended at 75% for each thing that really annoyed me in the last 25%:

1- These two were so good at communicating and saying how they felt and then a little thing happened and that was it, they forgot how to communicate and didn’t talk for days.

2- They never picked up talking about their disagreement, like sure they got back together, but they had forgotten how to communicate and it never came back. They just kept sulking on their own and never talked to each other about their issues.

3- The resolution didn’t make sense to me. It happened and I just didn’t get it. These two had stoped communicating with each other and suddently they were just all ready and willing to do giant commitments and changes for each other, I just didn’t buy it. They weren’t ready do any of that before and then, suddently, without talking to each other about what they wanted, they were ready to commit and change their lives around. That was way too out of the left field for me. I needed them to communicate and decide together what the best plan of action is.

4- Another thing about the resolution. It was nice the choice they ended up making to settle the conflict. But it was the one option that the author spent the entire book trying to tell you couldn’t happen and wouldn’t be it and the change between it not even being an option and then it being how they settle the conflict was way too fast and didn’t make much sense. I really didn’t enjoy that. It just didn’t make sense with the rest of the story.

5- There was this weird investigation plot with people doing illegal fishing. It was never resolved and was just in the back and it was barely talked about. It could just have been left out of the book if i’m being honest. I don’t understand why it was there and what it did to the story. It was really underdevolped too. If it had to be there, I would have liked it to be way more there. I just didn’t care for it and I would have enjoyed the last part of the book way more if it wasn’t there. It was so clear it was only used as a plot to manifacture drama and this book really didn’t we need, we had a main character with a chronic illness that wanted to move really far away from the town we’re in, that was more than enough drama as it is, we really didn’t need any more.

P.S. all the bonus points to how Meniere’s was described, I loved seeing how Judah dealt with it in his every day life and how it affected him. It is a permanent disorder and I loved that we got to see how it kept affecting him, and that it wasn’t just brushed off as something not important and not there, to help the plot along. It was a really good representation of how he lives his day to day life with his disorder and for that, I am very greatful.

PSS. I want my own really hot and hairy fisheries officer, Morgan seems like one hell of a man and sexy as all hell. Judah is a very lucky man.

[Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful surprise this book was.

I loved (almost) everything about it - the story, the characters, the background and the setting in a small town in New Zealand.

The book starts with Jonah, a talented ballet dancer, crashing during a performance with what turns out to be Meniére disease - I didn't know anything about that before, and I immediately set out to read about it on wikipedia.

8 months later, he's on a path of selfdistruction, drinking heavily to drown the pain of having his career shattered and feeling trapped. Enter Morgan, 10 years older, widowed, and not really looking for a relationship when he stumbles upon Judah.

This book was everything - funny, hot, with a few serious moments. The attraction between Jonah and Morgan was palpable and burned my kindle to ashes, and the banter between them was a thing of beauty :D

It wasn't perfect - that entire poaching/mystery plot felt a bit off, I could have done without it tbh, even though it got us a few tense moments during the final showdown. But the rest was perfect, and I can't wait to read more about Painted Bay and its inhabitants.

Definitely a recommendation for everyone looking for a well written, swoonworthy romance that leaves you smiling and with a crown of pink glitter dancing around your heart.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.25 stars ✰

“You undo me, Morgan, in so many, many ways. You’re absolutely fucking perfect for me.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ My first Jay Hogan book. 💪🏻 *pats self on back* It is a heartwarming story of second chances amidst heartbreak and pain - of two broken souls that have lost a pivotal part of their lives that had such a hold over their hearts that trying to open it up again to new possibilities is as daunting as falling in love with someone completely different than what they usually desire.​ 🥺

“Judah was a puzzle, a confusing blend of cocky determination, hesitant insecurity, anguish about the upheaval in his life, and sweet innocence—all wrapped up in a hot as hell body.”

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Oh, Judah.​ 💔💔 His self-wallowing in despair and hurt was exhausting and a bit draining at times, but I thought it was totally fair for him to be so down in the dumps - the trajectory of 'dancing on tour in London. A lifetime, a broken heart, a career collapse, a life-shattering disorder'. I mean, at twenty-five, when he has his whole career ahead of him - beautiful, aspiring prospect of his ballerina career, tragically put on indefinite hold due a debilitating illness that can lead to even further health risks - I don't blame him for how his dream has been crushed painfully so that has him compelled to return home to Painted Bay and have to spend his life on the docks working in the family business. 😢​ That's rough, buddy, doesn't even begin to cover it.

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ But, it is the character growth, albeit a bit of a tough one, that comes with seeing how closed off he was about the sacrifices made for him to achieve that dream is a harsh awakening. One that when he first comes off as self-centered and a bit callous and indifferent, slowly peels away into an understanding and receptive person who sees how he so easily accepted what was given to him without seeing how much was given up for him. That progress was nicely done.​ 👌🏻 But, that doesn't mean he didn't have it rough on his own. For underneath his openly gay and cheery disposition, is a heart that has faced his fair share of bullying and discrimination; the fear of never being seen as weak or a potential target for harassment. Escaping to the thrill of the theater was enough of a convincing pull, even if he never had a chance to truly share a worthwhile and meaningful relationship with anyone. And now with a crutch of an illness that would make anyone wary of his limitations, it's enough to lose all hope.​ 😞

“Right now I’m thinking of you—about how beautiful you are, about what I want to do to you, and Lord help me, about what I want you to do to me.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Until Morgan. Thirty-five-year-old Morgan who has lost his wife to cancer - one who is so firmly committed to his job as bay inspector that he doesn't have time for someone who defies the norm of what he's attracted to - with his bright-as-a-flower gay charm, sly and seductive, if not cheeky and clever, but belied by a shadow of 'a dull anger and grief alongside that power'. But, what you can't be denied is the fierce chemistry they have - the undeniable and instant flirtatious pull that they both feel upon their first meeting - drawn-out and relaxed, but heated with want and desire. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥​ What starts as friendship, followed by vulnerable confessions quickly changes into a fiery desperation of lust and want - a passionate romance that neither of them wish to hold off any longer from - starved for a closeness that seemed impossible - until now. But, along the way there is gentle tenderness that Morgan shows Judah - reminds him that he is worthy of love and affection, even when he's so jaded about what he has lost and what still sadly has the potential to lose. It's Judah trying not to be the answer to the void that Morgan is trying to fill in his own heart, determined to prove that he's not as broken as he comes off as.​ 🤧

“He still owned me. He still lit those dark corners of my soul on fire with just a look. And he still captivated my heart in its entirety.”



‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It's those little intimate moments that they exchange - the casual, but saucy banter, the humorous quips and the way they rile and rev each other up that I liked. Despite the heaviness of Judah's plight, there was a kindness in their relationship that was palpable and heartfelt. Morgan was protective and so considerate of this beautiful, challenging man - not one to handle him with kid's gloves, but simply be a reassuring and supportive presence, despite the fear of uncertainty that comes with how stressful it can be with someone who has as extreme a health issue as Judah has - 'we don’t get to choose who we fall for'. 🥺 It's that innate off-kilter feeling that leaves the other Off Balance in their expectations and presence that makes them realize how much more meaningful their attraction was. 🥹​ Full of longing and still questioning how they were not what the other expected to bring happiness and light back into their lives - and yet, deciding to throw caution to the wind and simply take a chance for a change. A certain understanding that restores the level of trust in the want for a long-lasting commitment with someone else. There are complicated challenges that they are thrown into - complex family situations that make it difficult to see the bright side of being together, but they were solid in the belief that their love for each other was true.​ 🤍🩶

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ​As much as​ the relationship was portrayed convincingly so, I did strangely feel that the plot felt very drawn out, to the point that it was dragging in the later half and I found myself getting bored​ - just hoping that it would end at some point.​ 😩 I don't know why I'm so resentful of family drama becoming such an integral focus of the plot, but I guess that's ​reality​??? 😮‍💨​ Leroy's antagonistic feelings towards his younger brother and sadly, his own mother were hard to get through, but I know there is a valid reason for it - which, also, is another point of annoyance - to be discussed below... It was my first time hearing about Meniere disease, but I appreciated how respectfully the author portrayed the challenges it presented; my heart ached at Judah's stubbornness of keeping quiet about it, but I still did understand his need to not be at the mercy of others sympathy and compassion, considering how he turned his back on them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

​ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The supporting cast was wholesome and welcoming that allowed Judah to see how jaded he was in his less than stellar impression of his home - a moment to see what he would miss out on if he turned its back on it again and be grateful for giving him something irreplaceable in return. 'It had brought Morgan into my life.' 🥺​ The side story with Ju​dah and Hannah​, his best friend, Matt's daughter,. was very sweet and heartwarming, and it was a beautiful and nurturing way for ​him to have a chance at a different, but still rewarding dream. However, as much as the ending certainly packed an action punch, I did not like how that story-line concerning Morgan's ​'job'​ became a side burner as their relationship picked up, one which unexpectedly reared its ugly head only towards the end. It felt sloppily handled, in my opinion.​ 🙄

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ One of the down sides of reading a series is that authors ​feel​ the need to have to expel as much attention to side characters and set up their niche so that the reader can easily segue into their story next. Fair enough. I ​just​ wish it could be characters that are likable or even worth reading about, rather than ones that already leave a bad taste in your mouth that it sets the precedent that it is going to be a redemption arc or even one where their unsavory actions are justified for it. ​*sigh*​ 🤦🏻‍♀️ Yes, it is a personal pet peeve of mine, I'm working on it, trust me, but it just bothers me still. Leroy and Kane are two characters who Judah has strong negative feelings towards; warranted, for sure. So that's what makes it harder for me to find myself a way to forgive them, even before I get to hear their side of the story, although, given my past experience with such stories, I do have a slight inkling where this is going.​ Maybe I should just resign myself to the fact that Painted Bay does have the power to redeem people and change their hearts' expectations. Or maybe I should stop assuming before giving it a chance​; but it's hard to turn off that part of my brain.​ 😔

“I cradled his face and brought our lips together, pouring everything I felt about him into that single kiss—every scrap of love, worry, fear, want, hope—everything.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ In all fairness, Judah also is very hard to like in the beginning - justified so - ​and it ​was​ hard to be completely forgiving of his actions and choices. But, it is a solid depiction of how he perseveres in the face of adversity that makes him shine as a character; one that shows how he takes his burden and makes a triumphant comeback in a way that is as promising as it is uplifting and inspiring to see. 👍🏻​ The Epilogue was hopeful and wholesome that gave me the glimpse into the settled happiness that Judah and Morgan were able to welcome into their lives once more.​ 🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’m not sure if I would have read this book unless it was for a group Buddy Read. I still was going to skip it, because I was a little nervous about the one of the MC being a ballet dancer. I decided to give it a go and try something different.

Honestly, I did struggle in the very beginning mainly because I did not like Judah, the ballet dancer, at all. Once it was explained what he was going through, not only in the present, but also his childhood, I adored him. He was a sparkly rainbow in a small town and did not fit in. Now that he returned, the townspeople were friendly and he hoped things might have changed.

Judah met his brother’s friend Morgan, a widower who was immediately attracted to all things Judah. Their relationship was hot from the beginning, until life got in their way and decisions had to be made. I liked that they both acted like adults and considered all avenues and any repercussions their decisions would make.

I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2, On Board which is about Judah’s supposedly straight brother Leroy.

[L Ann]

DNF @ 50%

I started this book a few weeks ago and had to put it on hold (at ~36%) because as much as I tried I could not get into it. There were pages and pages of inner monologue and not enough action to balance it out. I still wanted to know how the story turned out so I told myself that I'd continue it when I felt less annoyed with it.

Well, I picked it up yesterday and it definitely has more action than it did in the beginning but, unfortunately, I've already lost interest in the couple and, by extension, the story.

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Almost all of my GR friends love it so it's definitely a me thing. Give it a chance because you'll probably enjoy it more than me. It really starts to pick up around 40% so I probably should have kept going a little further that first time. Oh well.

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet. Emotional. Sexy.

Off Balance is a beautiful , descriptive and vividly written, MM romance story , set in a tiny and picturesque village in New Zealand.

Medium to low in angst and drama , with a bit of suspense , engaging heroes and lots of quirky , busy bodies secondary characters.

I was entertained and charmed by this lovely , sexy and emotional tale. My first by this author.

[Dee]

Im no prude but swearing every time one opens their mouth is just a turn off, I really wanted to read this book so bad but the swearing got on my nerves at just 2% and I just DNFed it .There are so many ways for an individual to voice out their displeasure without swearing that much.

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

“Who’d have guessed I’d find a damned gentleman who walked my side of the street in arsehole Painted Bay? I didn’t know whether to laugh or shake my fist at the gay gods of destiny. Whichever one of them gazed in their crystal ball and thought this was a good idea needed to lay off the margaritas. Like I needed another complication in my life, particularly a man, a nice man, a nice man who seemed to like me for who I was. Fucking unicorns.”

Why in the world did I take so long to read this? I loved it! I had seen so many mixed reviews for this that I kept dragging my feet on getting around to it, but once I did I just couldn’t stop.

So what did I love about this? I mean pretty much everything. The relationship between Judah and Morgan left me swooning from the beginning. The meet cute, amazing UST, flirty banter, and their mating dance were delicious. And the actual relationship, I mean talk about couple goals! They’re so disgustingly adorable and sexy together. And did I mention the sex? Scorching hot!

Let’s talk about the MCs for a moment. I felt so badly for Judah when his dazzling ballet career came to a devastating crash. The absolute hell and despair he experiences due to Ménière’s disease is heartbreaking, but watching him slowly pick himself up and forge a new identity is incredibly satisfying

And Morgan, gosh what a perfect boyfriend! He’s a sexy, rugged, fisheries officer with a heart of gold. Still recovering from grief after losing his wife, meeting Judah shakes up his world in the best way possible. He’s strong, supportive and I love the way he cares about Judah. He’s comfortable enough in his own skin to give up control in bed despite being older and more stereotypically alpha.

I know that quite a few people were put off by the drama at the very end, but it didn’t bother me since it was plot-related and had nothing to do with the MCs acting stupid.

What really pissed me off to no end though is Leroy (Judah’s brother) who is a major jerk!

“Goodnight my tiny dancer. See you Sunday.
A lump caught in my throat at his words. Tiny dancer. God, I was ridiculous. I fired back a text and then threw my phone across the couch so I could pretend I’d had nothing to do with it. Nite, pooky bear.
Please, somebody kill me now.”

[M.I.A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is good.
Really.
Just a case of wrong metal space for this book ?

I just found myself not quite on board with the writing style. Dialogue is on point, it's the inner monologues and the summary-like descriptions that had me disconnecting from the story line.
I simply couldn't immerse myself or connect fully with the story or the characters.

Which is odd because honestly the characters are all multi-dimensional, even the secondary characters. All of them intriguing.
The protagonists had interesting personalities.

Judah the ballet dancer who's had his life altered by health concerns. Mouthy, snarky, defensive, captivating, sweet and an overall complicated individual just trying to find a new purpose in life.

Morgan, widower with an outer shell of a gentlemen, a man's man, reasonable, mature but with a deep well of surprising discoveries that make him anything but ordinary.

See I liked them... I should be gushing. Really.

The setting is super picturesque. Small town vibes.

Many things to like. But, unfortunately I was bored with sparks of "nicely put Jay Hogan" . I think I'm just not in the mood for these kind of contemporary reads at the moment. >_<

That's not to say others won't love this, and most of my GR buddies who's taste in books matches mine have loved it. So this definitely a case of it's me, not the book!

Recommending to lovers of MM contemporary.

[Jackbees · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were believable and engaging. I liked the love story. I know someone with Meniere's, I am also a health professional. I feel that Jay was incredibly adept at bringing it into the light. The life changing effects of the disorder were so vivid when placed apon the shoulders of the talented, hard working Judah. It was heartbreaking.

I am Australian and listened to it as an audiobook. The narration by Gary Furlong was great, it was easy to differentiate the characters.

There was a sex scene about three quarters through that had me cringing. The dialogue was just a bit much for me, but I am sure it would be loved by others. In general I loved the chemistry between these two.

The writing was fantastic and fascinated me, I wish I could write a tenth as good as this.

4 stars instead of 5 because of the cringe moment with the mirror and the looooong length.

Thank you Jay.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

Not bad, but there's so. much. internal dialogue. (2020 has made me such a picky/grumpy reader!)

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I mostly enjoyed this and even the drama at around 92% wasn't a complete buzz kill aside from logistical issues that made it all make zero sense. (Massive spoiler for the ending. I'm describing everything:) First, Judah had to lose his phone, because he needed to be forced to go outside when the bad guys showed up to try to reach the phone in the office. And of course, Hannah, who was sound asleep just moments before, is suddenly awake and coming out to find out why he's outside. So of course, the bad guys notice them. Because of course, terrifying situations are more terrifying when children are involved. *yawn* But then Judah did get him and Hannah into the office but dithered around trying to remember Morgan's number before calling emergency. Seconds after the dispatcher answers, the bad guys are breaching the room, knocking the phone out of his hand and cornering him. Judah makes an escape via a very convenient hatch door in the floor over the water. If I'm generous, this all takes maybe five minutes max. Then we switch to Morgan getting a call from his partner that a call came through dispatch about two minutes before from Judah's location. Mind you, this is all at night and everyone had been asleep. So Morgan got dressed, drove down there in his Hilux (because he drives a Hilux, in case you forgot from the multiple times it was mentioned before) and he arrived on scene after his partner was already there, and just a few moments after that they heard the splash of Judah hitting the water. For them to be there right at that moment, they'd have to get the call about the call before the call was even made. Oh, and of course Judah was starting another vertigo attack as he went down, because the whole situation wasn't tense enough, ya know? *double yawn* So not very well thought out there. I figured something was going to happen with that storyline near the end, otherwise why include it, but the way it played out just didn't work for me at all. Authors really do need to act out - and time - these scenarios because the time allowed for all of this to happen was ludicrous and broke my ability to suspend disbelief.

Actually, the author did that a lot when it came to Morgan's appearance as well. He has a beard - and dimples, both of which are mention multiple times in the first half. Maybe he has one of those half-beards a la Seneca Crane from The Hunger Games, but since it's never actually described, I'm just imaging a regular old-fashioned beard. Even if it's neatly trimmed (about the only description we do get), that's not going to easily show off a pair of dimples. This was replaced in the second half by multiple mentions of his extremely hairy back and torso (Sasquatch was used at one point) - and the tattoo covering his upper back/shoulder/upper arm. If you're trying to imagine this in your head, you're doing more than the author appeared to do when constructing this character.

Anyway, stuff I did like:

Judah was a bit of a smart-mouth so of course, I enjoyed that. And Morgan, while more reserved, was still interesting to read about and get to know. They both had some baggage to deal with, and they help each other with that, and I liked that they actually talked to each other before "misunderstandings" could happen. The author was also clearly setting up which characters would be featuring in future installments in this series, but not in a way that detracted from the story. I suspect Judah's best friend Terry is seeing Kane, Judah's former school bully, apparently now reformed. I think Patrick and whathisname, Martha's son, might be getting their own story as well. And I really appreciated that this took place in more than a month, because the one-month to ILUs is such a commonplace thing that I've become numb to it, but I still notice when an author tries to give that particular timeline more room to feel authentic. Not by much, mind you, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

This is a new-to-me author whom I'll be checking out more of.

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jay Hogan's writing. I have read a couple of books written by her, and I loved every one of them. She creates real characters. People who suffer, people who fall in love and have to make life changing choices, people who are not perfect and who grow in the process of making a new relationship work.
All this was present in Off balance as well.

Morgan and Judah both deal with loss, though on different levels. Morgan lost his beloved wife 5 years ago and he has finally reached a point in his life where he tries to leave the grieving behind and move on. But it's not always that easy. He still misses Sally and he knows she will always be a part of him. But falling in love again, that was something he never thought he could do again. And yet, after meeting Judah, he finds himself remotely attracted to him. And it surprises him that he feels such a strong desire towards another man. He has always known he was bisexual, but never had a relationship with a man before.
Judah, on the other hand, has known he was gay since highschool. And he suffered from that. Bullied and felt like he was an outsider for most of his life, he fled out of the small town of Painted Bay as soon as he could, to go to a well known balletschool, so he could make his dream of becoming a ballet dancer, come true. And he managed to do so. He went to Boston, danced before great audiences and never looked back. Until his health forces him to do so.
He is diagnosed with Meniere's disease and he knows he won't ever be able to perform on stage again. His life has shattered into pieces, his heart broken and he returns to the small New Zealand town, to where his mom and his brother still live.
Then he meets Morgan. Their mutual attraction is immediately there, and though they can't deny there might be more than just something physical, both men find it hard, for different reasons, to commit themselves to a new relationship again.

I thought Jay Hogan did a wonderful job in making Judah and Morgan real. I loved how she showed their vulnerability, their struggles to embrace the new love they found. Afraid to lose it again, afraid to have to move on to something different and not being able to commit to a life together. I loved Morgan's protectiveness, the way he wanted to be there for Judah, help him find purpose in life again, for wanting a future again. Whether he would be part of it or not.
What I also loved is the fact they talked! They didnt give assumptions too big a chance to come between them - of course it was hard sometimes, but they still managed to do so.
And Hannah...I loved how Jay 'used' her personage to help Judah heal. To make him see what was right before him, namely that he was so much more than the former star of the ballet, who had to retire way too soon.

This first book is a very promising start of a new series and I can't wait to see which story comes next. There were a few secondary characters that I would like to get to know better!
All in all, I would really recommend this book. It's a beautiful, heartwarming romance that leaves you with all the good feelings.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Darn you, Jay Hogan, you DID it again!! I will shout this on the top of my lungs, Jay Hogan is an ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC author! I don't think I have a "miss" book from her so far, and this could easily be one of my top favorites along with Flat Whites & Chocolate Fish if not for that particular plot that I didn't really care about...

Off Balance is the first (yay! 💃🏻) book of a news series, entitled Painted Bay. My heart already brimming with potential couples, since we get to introduced to the Painted Bay citizens along the way. From Jam, an owner of Antiques and Collectables store, Patrick, a part time helper at Madden's mussel farm...

Anyway, I get away from the main couple 😆. I fell in love with Judah and Morgan immediately. Yes, Judah Madden had quite a backstory, a heartbreaking one too. A young talented upcoming ballet dancer whose dreams shattered with his Ménière syndrome and must returned back to the small coastal town of New Zealand. Judah always wanted to leave the town; he never felt like he belonged there. But now he must return because he had nowhere to go.

Then there was Morgan Wipene, an older fisheries officer who lost his wife to cancer five years previous. Morgan came to Painted Bay from Auckland to get away from the memories. And then he saw Judah, and things went supernova between them.

What I adored the most from this story was even with the struggles and heartbreak, it didn't really bring the story down into huge angst level. Judah was snarky and sometimes full of anger, yes, but there was also LAUGHTER and FLIRTING and SEXY MOMENTS between the two of them.

The arguments and conflicts felt real, and the secondary characters had TONS of dimension between them. They were never two-dimensional-straight-cartoon "villain". Like Leroy, Judah's older brother who seemed to harbor resentment. Then Cora, the Madden's matriarch, who had a surprise love story of her own.

Hogan also managed to bring me down to tears with the scene between Judah and Hannah. Oh my GOD, that one WAS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN!!!

The only "downside" plot of this book is the one with the poaching. It felt a little too undeveloped. Like it appeared one time, then another, and it felt like it should be more (because it had to do with Morgan's occupation) but also should be less (because it totally didn't 'connect' with the whole vibe). I just didn't enjoy that part.

But all in all, this is ANOTHER WINNER!! My God, another series from Hogan that I couldn't wait for the new books to be released. In addition to her Auckland Med and Southern Lights series.



Yes, Jay Hogan, MORE BOOKS PLEASE

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book safety, tropes and tags down below.

After the third reread/listen, I figured it was time I reviewed it, considering I'm trying to get into the habit of reviewing most of the books I read.

The fact that it's the third time I read it should say a lot, but to make it clear, I love this book. Judah and Morgan are some of my favorite MCs, and one of my favorite couples. There's definitely a healthy dose of opposites attract here, but the more you read and get to know the characters, as well as Morgan and Judah getting to know each other better too, their connection makes more and more sense. It starts with a simple attraction, but they build a really solid friendship and eventual relationship in the midst of some pretty serious and challenging things.

Morgan is a widower, and even though his wife passed 5 years ago, he's never actually had a relationship with a man before (he's bisexual, but only done hookups up with men). He feels ready, but is still gun-shy. Judah on the other hand has just had to move back home to a place he never wanted to live, because of the onset of a disease that robbed him of his ballet career. All of this combined doesn't exactly create a great environment for fostering new relationships, but, if they wan't it badly enough, they can make it work.

I think this book has become one of my comfort-books. The ones I can read or listen to again and again. Doesn't necessarily mean that they're literary masterpieces, but it just connects with me somehow. That's usually why I would give a book 5 stars, too.

Book safety

Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Versatile. They switch a lot on-page.

TW/CW: chronic illness, Ménière's disease, widower/death of partner off-page/cancer, explicit sexual content, child with chronic illness

Tropes & tags

Age gap, widower, chronic disease, dancer, New Zealand, village, bisexual, brother's friend, makeup, feminine MC, ballet tights fetish (you'll like it)