I don't usually like a book that revisits a couple who already got their HEA in a previous book. I'm happy to find an exception with this book. Raymond and David are my favorites in this series and they remain so.

Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

‘Interborough’ is the sequel to ‘Sunset Park’ and absolutely fantastic as far as I am concerned. Raymond and David’s romance in that book was anything but easy, and even though they figured out they were better together than apart at the end of that novel, I could not help but wonder how they were going to deal with their differences once “real life” caught up with them. And I was right to question the stability of their union. Both Raymond and David changed a lot in the first part of their story, but they have a ton of issues that remain unresolved. Despite – or maybe because – they tend to end up in the bedroom burning up the sheets rather than face a couple of serious discussions they urgently need to have, the pressure, conflict, and misunderstandings mount up and up and up. The explosion, when it comes, is epic and I wasn’t sure there for quite a few pages how they were ever going to manage to resolve their issues.

Raymond is a longshoreman of Puerto Rican descent, grew up in a dysfunctional family in Queens, and is the younger brother of Michael from book one. They moved in together when Raymond needed a place to stay so he could “figure out how to be an adult”, the sexual tension between them flared up, and Raymond had to admit he is bisexual rather than straight. He still struggles with fully coming out, and that is one of the areas of tension between him and David, who could not be more out and proud if he tried. His full-on drive to handle two jobs and going to college is the other primary source of their problems – with Raymond almost never being home, David begins to feel neglected and alone.

David is from Connecticut, all prim and proper, and a teacher who works with Michael in a gay-friendly school in Brooklyn. He would never admit to being a drama queen but he is just a touch high-strung. As becomes more and more apparent as the story develops, he is also incredibly insecure, vulnerable, and doesn’t feel like an equal partner in their relationship. He tries to be supportive, but between the stress and pressures at the school where he works with him trying to get tenure, and Raymond not willing to “come out all the way” and admit they are a couple in public, David begins to lose first hope and then his patience.

Raymond ignores the issues and tries to “just push through”, all macho-like. David tries to reach him, but isn’t always very mature about it either (see his episodes of heavy drinking and partying). The increasing distance between them broke my heart – and even though I looked at their struggles from a distance, I did not see an easy solution either. I guess sometimes couples just have to “battle it out” and this is an excellent example of one such situation. And what a battle it turned out to be, proving that sometimes love alone is not enough.

If you want a character-driven story about two complicated, flawed men who are deeply in love and determined to make their relationship succeed despite all the obstacles life throws at them, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. Raymond and David deal with real issues and that made their struggles all the more intriguing. Both men continued to annoy me to distraction, just like in ‘Sunset Boulevard’, yet they also impressed me with their resilience and their willingness to keep trying until they find a solution that will work for them.


NOTE: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )

FGMAMTC Blog Review  Giveaway
4.75

Raymond totally 'does it' for me. I love his gruffness and how he softens for David. I'm so proud for him too, the way he's made so many positive steps in his life. He gives off all those bad boy vibes and does so many good guy things. He even has the looks. So yeah, male perfection, a five star, four alarm book boyfriend.

We saw David and Raymond go through states of semi-functioning adulthood to actually seeming to pull it together in Sunset Park, but really making everything work takes more than just deciding it will happen. Both are still adapting to being a we instead of an I. There are hardships that come with being a grown up and paying bills. Raymond has never been in love or had responsibilities. David tends to freak out and be overly dramatic. They have their ups and downs, and from these scenes come some of the sweetest dialogue and hottest sex ever. They're so real. I find myself smiling and sighing and feeling the feels. Michael and Nunzio have some epic love lines too. I may have teared up.

I enjoyed this novel from start to finish. My emotions were involved. The writing is great. The characters are delicious. I can't recommend it enough.


***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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FGMAMTC Blog Review  Giveaway
4.75

Raymond totally 'does it' for me. I love his gruffness and how he softens for David. I'm so proud for him too, the way he's made so many positive steps in his life. He gives off all those bad boy vibes and does so many good guy things. He even has the looks. So yeah, male perfection, a five star, four alarm book boyfriend.

We saw David and Raymond go through states of semi-functioning adulthood to actually seeming to pull it together in Sunset Park, but really making everything work takes more than just deciding it will happen. Both are still adapting to being a we instead of an I. There are hardships that come with being a grown up and paying bills. Raymond has never been in love or had responsibilities. David tends to freak out and be overly dramatic. They have their ups and downs, and from these scenes come some of the sweetest dialogue and hottest sex ever. They're so real. I find myself smiling and sighing and feeling the feels. Michael and Nunzio have some epic love lines too. I may have teared up.

I enjoyed this novel from start to finish. My emotions were involved. The writing is great. The characters are delicious. I can't recommend it enough.


***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Google  / Pinterest / Goodreads / Tumblr / Bloglovin' / Instagram




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