Book Review – Hurricane Reese by R.L Merrill

Forces of Nature #1
Publisher: Celie Bay Publications
Pages: 267
Characters: Reese/Jude
POV: 3rd
Genre: Contemporary, Series

Blurb:
The life of Tony-winning musician Reese Matheson resembles a natural disaster, and caregiver Jude De La Torre is caught in the eye of the storm. But can the love of two opposites survive caring for an ornery octogenarian with wayward balls and a meddling family insistent upon tradition?

Fresh off the successful London run of his musical, the last thing Reese expects when he comes home is a house surrounded by paparazzi and his girlfriend throwing his stuff into the pool. All he wants to do is spend time with his beloved grandfather and musical mentor who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Reese knows he doesn’t have much time left before the elder Matheson forgets who he is. In classic “Hurricane Reese” form, he moves into the cottage by the sea and displaces Jude, the intriguing caregiver he hired two years before. When Grandpa proves too much for Reese to handle on his own, Jude comes to his rescue, taming Grandpa… and the Hurricane as well. Soon all Reese can think about is how to get Jude out of his scrubs and into his bed—permanently. Will Hurricane Reese destroy everything in his path, or will this odd couple learn to harmonize together?

Buy Link

Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, despite reading the books in entirely the wrong order and finishing with book 1. I loved the insight into Jude and Reese’s relationship and reading about their first meeting and how they got together.

I particularly enjoyed Jude’s perspective as he’s so together and in control apart from where Reese is concerned. I loved how Jude’s background and family’s beliefs threatened to come between them with the divide between who he is and loves, and their expectations. Reese is so kind hearted, yet like a bull in a china shop with the way he rushes in and thinks later. A hurricane is the perfect description for him.

I liked Jude’s parenting of his siblings and the eventual showing up of his parents and how that changes so much. Reese’s granddad is quite the character. I love how his life and music weaves through the narrative of the series. I liked seeing Toby and Reese’s friendship from Reese’s perspective, and how good Toby is at reading a situation/people (apart from where his own heart is involved).

This story is very much about family from very different perspectives, and as with the series, will stay with me far after I finish reading.

5 out of 5 stars.

About Anne Barwell

Anne Barwell lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She shares her home with a cat with “tortitude” who is convinced that the house is run to suit her; this is an ongoing “discussion,” and to date, it appears as though Kaylee may be winning. In 2008, Anne completed her conjoint BA in English Literature and Music/Bachelor of Teaching. She has worked as a music teacher, a primary school teacher, and now works in a library. She is a member of the Upper Hutt Science Fiction Club and plays violin for Hutt Valley Orchestra. She is an avid reader across a wide range of genres and a watcher of far too many TV series and movies, although it can be argued that there is no such thing as “too many.” These, of course, are best enjoyed with a decent cup of tea and further the continuing argument that the concept of “spare time” is really just a myth. She also hosts and reviews for other authors, and writes monthly blog posts for Love Bytes. She is the co-founder of the New Zealand Rainbow Romance writers, and a member of RWNZ. Anne’s books have received honorable mentions five times, reached the finals four times—one of which was for best gay book—and been a runner up in the Rainbow Awards. She has also been nominated twice in the Goodreads M/M Romance Reader’s Choice Awards—once for Best Fantasy and once for Best Historical. Anne can be found at https://annebarwell.wordpress.com

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