Duty & Devotion (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #3)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Duty & Devotion (Faith, Love, & Devotion #3)

by Tere Michaels (Goodreads Author)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 2,099 ratings · 174 reviews

After their happily ever after in Faith & Fidelity, Matt and Evan move forward to a new chapter of their lives -- inside the bedroom and out -- with some surprises in store for both. Evan struggles with labels and feelings even as he wants to give in to his baser desires. Matt, now the ideal househusband of Queens, New York, has his own set of struggles -- who is he no...more

ebook, 161 pages

Published March 23rd 2010 by Loose Id, LLC

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Best of Gay Romance

31st out of 1,481 books — 1,469 voters

FAVORITE GAY COUPLES

40th out of 1,130 books — 1,434 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,805)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Nov 18, 2011 DarienMoya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads, my-m-m-lovin, fave-books-of-2010, piss-off-books-of-2010, gay-for-you

^^I AM DEVOTED TO THIS COUPLE!^^

More of my reviews and thoughts on my blog PANTS OFF REVIEWS

All the ways I love this series, the ways are so very many. This series was just splendidly written with wonderful characters, and the overall story line is so simple and just moves and works so well. Tere Michaels is a wonderful writer and whatever she is working on next, I am so owning.

This is the third book in this wonderful series, and the sequel to Faith & Fidelity , and I am all kinds of in lov...more ^^I AM DEVOTED TO THIS COUPLE!^^

More of my reviews and thoughts on my blog PANTS OFF REVIEWS

All the ways I love this series, the ways are so very many. This series was just splendidly written with wonderful characters, and the overall story line is so simple and just moves and works so well. Tere Michaels is a wonderful writer and whatever she is working on next, I am so owning.

This is the third book in this wonderful series, and the sequel to Faith & Fidelity , and I am all kinds of in love with Evan and Matt. From the first book we gather this was friends becomes lovers, and the first male on male relationship for both our main characters. Evan had just lost his wife, and Matt was the friend and then other feelings started happening. There were a lot of struggles on Evan’s part dealing with the lost of his wife, the only person he has ever been with and loved. Here comes Matt a male, and he starts stirring up all these feelings. Both men start a tentative relationship, and the road ahead is not an easy one.

The second book takes place a few months after and Matt and Evan now live together with the kids. Evan’s kids know of the relationship and have accepted him with open arms. Matt is now a househusband, taking care of the home, looking after the kids, doing the shopping etc. Evan is still a cop, he works late hours which puts a strain on the relationship, and to make matters worse, Matt still keeps in contact with James( read previous book F&F) which Evan is very jealous of.

Even though this might seem like newlywed bliss, obstacles keep popping up for the guys, the main issues being; Evan unable to deal with the fact that he is now a part of a gay couple, his nervousness to have sex, and his jealousy issues. Even though Evan pissed me off a lot in this book, I still love him.

This series is wonderful because it takes the gay relationship one-step further, and proves it is not always about sex. This is a real relationship, with real feelings, and the realities of what it would be like if suddenly you find yourself loving the same sex. The sexual aspect of this book was high, but it was just so erotic, even though actual sex happens very later on, the build up to it was a sweet progression. I am deeply in love with this series, I am deeply in love with Matt and Evan and I will be revisiting them time after time.

I just love this series, if you like M/M fiction then this series will guarantee to warm your heart.
(less)

28 likes · like · see review

Feb 06, 2012 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: series-faith-love-devotion, author-tere-michaels, format-kindle-or-kindle-compatible, mm, starts-with-a-thru-d, ebook-own-have-read, 4-stars, cops-detectives-agents, review-needed, reviewed-by-me

What a great conclusion to the Faith, Love & Devotion trilogy!!

I loved Faith & Fidelity which is an amazing love story, but still I got more of a happily for now vibe from it than I liked. But finally, in Duty & Devotion, I got that completely satisfied feeling and was left knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that these two amazing men, Evan Cerelli and Matt Haight, got the incredibly wonderful happily ever after that both were so, so deserving of.

4.5/5 stars

10 likes · like · see review

Oct 13, 2011 Buggy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Buggy by: D!!

Shelves: men-in-uniform-pc-ff, shelf-11, man-love

Opening Line: " I think this couch just makes me horny"

What a great conclusion to this trilogy. It isn’t often that you get the story after the HEA and I really appreciated being allowed back into Evan and Matt’s relationship to see how things were working out for them. As is often the case their story which began in (Faith & Fidelity) left us with a lot of loose ends and here we are given a very complete conclusion to their romance. It was also fun to see Jim and Griffin again (Love & L ...more Opening Line: " I think this couch just makes me horny"

What a great conclusion to this trilogy. It isn’t often that you get the story after the HEA and I really appreciated being allowed back into Evan and Matt’s relationship to see how things were working out for them. As is often the case their story which began in (Faith & Fidelity) left us with a lot of loose ends and here we are given a very complete conclusion to their romance. It was also fun to see Jim and Griffin again (Love & Loyalty (Faith & Fidelity, #2) and I loved the surprising and open friendship that developed between all the men.

As with all her books this is very much a character driven story which just so happens to include sexy M/M interludes. It feels wrong however to classify it as erotic just because of the occasional bit of bum lovin, I mean I’ve read that in mainstream romances too so?... Ah yes issues with labels, I think that’s what this whole book is about. Anyways Tere Michaels is also brilliant at writing multidimensional characters, including the secondary ones and I feel like everyone involved here is now a personal friend of mine. This is a fantastic series and I hope to be reading something (anything) from Ms Michaels again soon.

Matt & Evan, how much do I love these guys? It was so great to go back and revisit them and their evolving relationship. Surprisingly I did come away with a different feel to both characters then I did after reading F&F. Evan pissed me off quite a bit here and I actually felt sorry for Matt and his new househusband status, even though it appeared to be what he wanted. Their relationship still felt unequal, with Evan calling all the shots and Matt not receiving much in return. This would of course be the conflict that slowly gets resolved.

Theres not really much of a plot synopsis to give, we join Evan and Matt in their new house, Matt has taken over the role as househusband and Evan continues on with the police force and struggles with issues of labels and people knowing he’s in a same sex relationship. The return of Jim Shea pushes Evan’s jealousy buttons but forces him to face the facts and then of course theres Griffin who becomes a surprising ally and good teacher too once Evan gets over his own stereotyping.

Cheers people and many thanks to D, Pants off baby!(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Apr 05, 2013 Rissa (an M/M kinda Girl!!) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, gang-bang-picks-q2, 2013, battle-of-the-books, xxapril-2013

This was a great wrap-up to the series...is it over, hmmm...I wonder!

One of my favorite things is getting to take a look in on some of my fav couples. Evan & Matt are definitely one of my favs. In this book we get to see these guys in a more 'established', stable relationship. I adored Matt as a househusband, he just seemed to fit the role perfectly. Evan was still trying to come to grips with what people outside of his little circle would think out his and Matts relationship and that cause...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 05, 2011 Alyosha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Alyosha by: Juana "Darkness" Duran

Shelves: agents-cops-soldiers-warriors, contemporary, established-relationship, family-drama, gfy, light-n-sweet, like-a-virgin, multiple-pairings

I enjoyed Duty&Devotion. The guys really grew up here. Or rather Matt had already grown up in F&F and was waiting for Evan to catch up. And he did, eventually.

It was wonderful to see Griffin&Jim too again after their HEA. They were as lovable as ever and managed to help Evan in the process of accepting himself and Matt while delighting the reader with their banter and love.

The story left me with a warm fuzzy feeling, the men were together, future looking long and bright, and most of...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Susan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Outraged!

Someone clearly drugged me last night, tied me up, propped my eyelids open and FORCED me to read this book! That is the only explanation. There is no way, after having read book 1, would I have CHOSEN to read another book about Matt and Evan, right? *shit*…but I did…

* Evan remains an ass.
* Matt remains a pushover (though still charming).
* I passed on book 2 so I wouldn’t have to read about Jim…so there was WAY too much Jim/Griffin in this book. (I don’t dislike Jim…I just don’t care abo...more

12 likes · like · see review

Nov 23, 2012 Kris (KindleRomance) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, amazing, favorites, favs-2012

Absolutely loved it! For some reason, I was expecting a nice little epilogue to finish off the first book. I almost read this one right after the first book, but I'm so glad I didn't. The 2nd book needed to be read before this. Jim and Griffin are major players in this book, and it was important to understand the relationship they had. Needless to say, I loved everything about this book. There was a lot going on here. In addition to solidifying the relationship between Matt and Evan, you also go...more

8 likes · like · see review

Dec 30, 2010 Mel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, e-book, favorites

Duty & Devotion is the third book in the Faith, Love & Devotion series and a revisiting of the couple of the first book: Evan and Matt.

In Faith & Fidelity, we saw widower Evan Cerelli and former manwhore Matt Haight get together as their mutual sufferings made way for friendship and then love. The road to happiness was long: full of angst and major bumps along the way, but at the end, the guy got the guy and they lived happily ever after.
But what happens after a Happily Ever After? W...more Duty & Devotion is the third book in the Faith, Love & Devotion series and a revisiting of the couple of the first book: Evan and Matt.

In Faith & Fidelity, we saw widower Evan Cerelli and former manwhore Matt Haight get together as their mutual sufferings made way for friendship and then love. The road to happiness was long: full of angst and major bumps along the way, but at the end, the guy got the guy and they lived happily ever after.
But what happens after a Happily Ever After? Well, we learn all about it in this book. Because having a healthy relationship is only the beginning, maintaining one takes time, effort and devotion...

More than 1,5 years after we first met him, Evan is still the perfectionist; trying to please everyone and juggling work, his role as a father and a lover. All while trying to keep up a spot clean image for the outside world and coming to terms with himself being gay.
Matt however, has taken it all in stride. He has become a househusband, taking care of Evan’s kids and running their household. He is happy, but he can’t help but get affected by Evan’s insecurities and shame.

Evan and Matt’s struggles are believable and gripping. Michaels created such wonderful and believable characters who each have their own sets of demons to battle and you can’t help but feel for them. It was great to be reunited with them, and the secondaries like Helena, Liz, Ellie and Vic.
We also got to see Jim and Griffin (from Love & Loyalty) again. It was good to see how they fared after their happy ending and Griffin brought the much needed comic relief.

There was a bit involving Griffin’s starlet friend Daisy Mae, which provided a little drama and I personally thought that was redundant. This book didn’t need big dramatic happenings to make a point. It’s the little things in where Michaels’ strength lies.

Because she is truly a master at describing every day domestic situations. Her portrayal of Evan and Matt’s household, Matt’s relationship with the kids, Evan’s bantering with Helena: it was all so real. Together with the great characterizations of the main couple and the secondaries, it made the story a fun and engaging ride.

Duty & Devotion was wonderful read and a great addition to the series. Hope there are many more books to come.
4,5 stars(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 14, 2011 Indie Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie-reviews, romance, lgbt, fiction

Duty & Devotion is Tere Micahels' third book in her Faith, Love and Devotion series and the eagerly awaited sequel to Faith & Fidelity in which she once again delivers another well-written story with plenty of relationship angst and steamy sex. The element that stands out most between Micahels' stories, including this one, and the countless other books in the gay romance genre is the level of realism and believability that she infuses in her stories while at the same time delivering the...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 07, 2012 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, contemporary-romance, m-m, favorites

This story picks up, just after Matt and Evan get back together, after their breakup. Evan's having a hard time accepting his sexuality, after the loss of his wife Sherri. He finally finds happiness with Matt, but being a heterosexual for years, he finds it hard to fully come out of the closet. Being in the police force and having children don't help matters.

Matt is a fun carefree guy and takes things as they come. The complete opposite to Evan and has no problems with being gay. I love these tw...more

8 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2011 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gotta-have-it, own-it

This is the continuation of Evan and Matt's story and I just loved it. Seeing them grow and the way it's never rushed, even the sex, just building, was wonderful. Evan changed so much and even though his inner turmoil is still there, it's getting more manageable with every passing day. And Matt, who doesn't need to change as much, is able to step up and claim what he needs for his own sanity. I love these two, I want another trip to their world, even a short one, just to check in. I can't say en...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 ARe Cafe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vals-picks

Duty and Devotion by Tere Michaels is the sequel to Faith and Fidelity and begins several months after the events of that story. Faith and Fidelity details how Evan and Matt first became a couple after the sudden death of Evan’s wife Sherri in a car accident. The two men were both cops who had never before considered experimenting with a gay relationship. Evan raised four children with his childhood sweetheart Sherri, and Matt was a ladies’ man who never settled down.

In Faith and Fidelity, they...more Duty and Devotion by Tere Michaels is the sequel to Faith and Fidelity and begins several months after the events of that story. Faith and Fidelity details how Evan and Matt first became a couple after the sudden death of Evan’s wife Sherri in a car accident. The two men were both cops who had never before considered experimenting with a gay relationship. Evan raised four children with his childhood sweetheart Sherri, and Matt was a ladies’ man who never settled down.

In Faith and Fidelity, they formed a friendship to help each other through Evan’s terrible loss and Matt’s midlife crisis, and their friendship developed into something more. Now, Evan and Matt are living together and raising Evan’s kids who accept the arrangement with differing levels of tolerance. Matt, who has retired from the police force, is now chafing as an unappreciated house-husband while Evan works non-stop. However, their real problem centers on Evan’s inability to release his guilt and negative feelings towards being in a gay relationship. A visit from Jim and Griffin, a happy couple from the author’s stand-alone novel Love and Loyalty, might help open Evan’s eyes before it’s too late.

Both Duty and Devotion and the not-to-be-missed Faith and Fidelity are strong, emotionally complex novels. There is a lot to praise here, especially the interaction between Evan, Matt, and Evan’s four kids who range in age from the oldest daughter, a college freshman, to the youngest, a nine-year old boy. These kids seem completely real and refreshingly open-minded about adapting to their father’s new boyfriend stepping into the caretaking role once filled by their mother who died less than two years ago. I didn’t think such a thing would be plausible until I read it for myself.

The aspect about Duty and Devotion that impresses me most is how likable the author makes the incredibly complicated character of Evan. Matt is funny and sexy, and everyone’s going to like him, but Evan struggles with guilt and self-hatred and could have looked really bad in comparison, but he doesn’t. His inability to accept his gay desires is very believable, and it’s to the author’s credit that she doesn’t rush us readers through this. Evan and Matt still haven’t quite consummated their relationship — and with each small step in that direction, Evan is overwhelmed with the emotional and physical intensity of his feelings, which makes the most subtle aspects to their sexual encounters incredibly hot.

For example, take this excerpt: “When he looked up, all Evan could see was Matt’s face in utter ecstasy. His eyes weren’t focused on Evan, he was staring down between them where their bodies were so intimately touching, and then it wasn’t the touch or pull of his palm that made Evan’s entire body jerk and spasm. It was the expression of hunger on Matt’s face that sent Evan over the edge.” Duty and Devotion is a strong installment in the continuing story of a romance that may linger in your memory for a long time.

Val for AReCafe(less)

like · see review

Jan 08, 2013 Anabella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

Otro libro genial de la serie Fe, amor y devoción.
Realmente me gusta este tipo de historias tan "real", donde los tiempos son lentos, y los personajes que antes eran heteros tardan en reconocer lo que les está pasando. Es normal en la ficción M/M que los personajes se juren amor eterno al poco de conocerse, y que su vida sea HEA (felices para siempre), sin problemas, sin complicaciones...
Este libro empieza donde se queda el primero, con ellos mudándose y empezando su vida juntos.
Me gusta como E...more

like · see review

Jul 19, 2012 Christiana rated it 5 of 5 stars

YAYY back to Evan and Matt. Well the synopsis already told me that that jim would be making an appearance and really looked forward to how the jealous arguments were gonna work out. all the jealousy made Evan a little passive aggressive towards Matt but the moments were delicious reads, there was crazy drama with a drop of humour with a bit chaos on the side. YUM

I was surprised to discover that they had not actual intercouse yet (not counting bjs and the like) in the 10 months they had been toge...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 29, 2011 L-D rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cop-pi-bountyhunter, m-m, romance, favorites, lend-fiona, series

This was probably my favorite book of the series. In this book, Evan and Matt are living as a family with Evan's 4 children. Matt is not working but is fulfilling all the necessary home-duties as a house husband. Evan is still on the force and as much a workaholic as ever. While they have a happy family life, Matt is feeling like he has replaced Sherrie, Evan's dead wife, and searches for something to define himself with Evan as someone other than his wife's replacement. Evan also recognizes tha...more This was probably my favorite book of the series. In this book, Evan and Matt are living as a family with Evan's 4 children. Matt is not working but is fulfilling all the necessary home-duties as a house husband. Evan is still on the force and as much a workaholic as ever. While they have a happy family life, Matt is feeling like he has replaced Sherrie, Evan's dead wife, and searches for something to define himself with Evan as someone other than his wife's replacement. Evan also recognizes that he has fallen into the exact same role as before - working late, not spending enough time with the kids, expecting Matt to take care of things at home, and generally not appreciating the second chance he's been given. In Faith & Fidelity, Matt had a one night stand with Jim (from Love & Loyalty). They kept in touch over the months and developed a long-distance friendship. Jim & Griffin are arriving in NY to see a play and they all meet for dinner. Evan has been jealous of Jim and his friendship with Matt and this dinner may bring out Evan's worst behaviors. On top of his jealousy, Evan has to also deal with his homophobic feelings. Although he loves and lives with Matt, he is uncomfortable with calling himself gay, is uncomfortable with public displays of affection, and mortified when he discovers people outside of close friends know about their relationship. His constant anxiety over what people think of him is building a wall between him and Matt that could mean the end of their relationship.

The reason I loved this book is because it had all 4 characters in it. I also liked the way the author switches the POV between chapters so that you can really feel and understand what each character is going through. While Evan accepted his relationship with Matt in Faith & Fidelity, his inability to accept that he is gay is a very interesting concept to me, but it makes sense since Evan was straight and happily married for so many years. I like to read and learn about these ups and downs in a gay relationship, and I really enjoyed reading about these four characters.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a difficult book, I think. Not in the sense of it being hard to read, but in the sense that it dealt with those pesky little parts of HEA that we don't generally like to think about when we read romance novels. We like to think that once our intrepid couple gets together, all will be butterflies and rainbows. Which is not bad, and part of the reason I think we read romance novels - real life sucks, and we like to see that at least fictional characters can be happy.

But of course, the rea...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 17, 2011 Annika rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, m-m, romance

So this is the sequal to Evan and Matts story. And while it handles their problems and how to overcome them fairly well and you just want to know how's it's going on there is lot's of angst in it again.
We pick up a few weeks after the first book ended and Matt is living with evan and cares about the house and the family. The children do love him, Evan does love and everything could be fine. Wouldn't there be Evans issues - he can't accept he's gay. He can't tell his collegues, he does not want t...more

like · see review

Jun 01, 2010 John rated it 5 of 5 stars

She did it. Sequels can be quite scary - especially when we've come to love and care about the characters. I'm always very afraid that the characters will no longer sound like themselves or that they will do things that seem completely "out of character" or in ways that undermine what we've come to love about them.
None of that happened here. Matt and Evan are still the noble, fucked up, courageous, scared guys they were in the first novel. Matt still jokes when he's nervous and Evan still analy...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 DaisyGirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, genre-romance, i-own, other-steamy, romance-contemp, romance-police-fbi

3.5 Stars

Duty & Devotion is the third (and final?) book in the Faith, Love, and Devotion series (trilogy?). It is a culmination of both book 1 and book 2. Honestly, Faith & Fidelity ended with a HFN. So in Duty & Devotion, we pick back up with Matt and Evan. Matt is lovingly serving as househusband to Evan's brood of children. While Matt enjoys his life with Evan, he fears losing his self-identity. Evan, on the other hand, is still struggling with being gay. He despises labels about...more 3.5 Stars

Duty & Devotion is the third (and final?) book in the Faith, Love, and Devotion series (trilogy?). It is a culmination of both book 1 and book 2. Honestly, Faith & Fidelity ended with a HFN. So in Duty & Devotion, we pick back up with Matt and Evan. Matt is lovingly serving as househusband to Evan's brood of children. While Matt enjoys his life with Evan, he fears losing his self-identity. Evan, on the other hand, is still struggling with being gay. He despises labels about anything ... him, Matt, him and Matt ... anything. But the truth is really that he is having a difficult time reconciling his own preconceived notions and biases about homosexuality with himself, Matt, and their life together.

Jim and Griffin (from Love & Loyalty) make an appearance. They are in NYC to attend Daisy's opening on Broadway and invite Matt and Evan to dinner, which turns out to be a disaster. Evan is seriously jealous of Jim and is unable to keep his emotions in check. He also is uncomfortable with Jim and Griff's public displays of affection. When Jim is injured defending Daisy from a psycho stalker at the play, however, Evan gets a better perspective on things and is able to salvage a friendship with Jim and Griff.

I enjoyed Duty & Devotion. Jim and Griff obtained some much needed closure with Daisy and her betrayal in Love & Loyalty. I really enjoy Jim and Griff as a couple. They are so fun, loving, and loyal; Griff's is especially charming. Evan and Matt are another matter. God knows, I love this couple ... almost as much as Ty & Zane ... *gasp* I know ... that's saying a lot because I practically worship Ty & Zane, but it's true. Evan and Matt are my angsty lovebirds and they, once again, come through in spades. There is not as much danger of Evan kicking Matt out or Matt leaving because neither would do that to the kids. But the troubles they face are heart wrenching nonetheless. Again, I especially felt for Matt. I get that Evan was working through his issues but it royally sucked to be at the receiving end of things on that score. At times, I thought Matt let Evan off the hook way too easily. I also felt that Evan's statement at the end (view spoiler) Just my two cents.

Bottom line: A fitting conclusion to the trilogy with HEAs all around.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 30, 2012 Maki2011 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 思いっきり引っ張ってくれて、いっそ清々しいです。
シリーズ3作目で、EvanとMattのその後の話。

4人の子持ちでも新境地の開拓には2年近く必要なのねー。
M/Mモノはこっちが「もうちょっとためらえ！」と突っ込みたくなるものばかりなので、
ここまでためらってくれると何もいうことがない。

悩みまくるけれど、それがどこか愛おしい。
Evanの悩むポイントが納得できてツボ。
Mattの忍耐力もすごいわー。
一回捨てられてるのがちゃんと尾を引いていて、（多くの作品群ではキレイすっかり忘れ去られる）理にかなってます。
1冊目のときも、そうだったけれど、人生について真剣に考えるところが読んでて気持ちいい。

シリーズのタイトルを見る限り、３作で終わりっぽいのがすごく残念。

ただひとつ、全く納得がいかないのはGOALのJesse。
突然仕事場に来るか？
OUTしてなかったら相当問題じゃないの？
ありえないと思う。

Evan's hesitation is so fond of me.
It is reasonable. I can feel it.
Many M/Ms are sometimes too easy-going for...more

like · see review

Jan 31, 2011 Camilla ~ ♥Qhuay At Last♥ ~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, favorites

Let me start off with the bad thing about this book!

That it ended!!! Omg... I loooveeee Matt and Evan.. I'm like shaking right now, I just want to keep these two guys in my life, forever and ever and ever and ever!!

I dont know what it is about these two middelaged guys, who used to be straight.. I just love them so much, and I wish I could bribe the author to keep writing about them.. I dont care if its about a trip to the mall, a car ride to the beach, or just reading about them watching a mov...more

7 likes · like · see review

Mar 24, 2010 Ravyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-mm-fiction, c-cops-agents-spies, t-gay-for-you

I've been looking forward to this book ever since I first read about Matt and Evan a year ago in Faith & Fidelity. If you recall, our protagonists went through quite a lot when we first met them. At the start of F&F, the two cops were at emotional low points in their lives, both lonely and grieving in their own ways. Then they met and slowly built a solid friendship from the commonalities between them. Soon enough, this evolved into a confusing and tenuous relationship with plenty of ang...more I've been looking forward to this book ever since I first read about Matt and Evan a year ago in Faith & Fidelity. If you recall, our protagonists went through quite a lot when we first met them. At the start of F&F, the two cops were at emotional low points in their lives, both lonely and grieving in their own ways. Then they met and slowly built a solid friendship from the commonalities between them. Soon enough, this evolved into a confusing and tenuous relationship with plenty of angst along the way. Next came Evan's shooting and recovery, then total freak-out (on Evan's part) and subsequent breakup. Finally Evan came to his senses in regards to Matt, and they enjoyed a tentative HFN ending. But even with Matt and Evan's final reconciliation, F&F still ended with many issues left unresolved. How were Evan and Matt going to rearrange their lives to make their relationship work? Would Evan's job be affected? Would the kids be ok with Matt as their dad's "special friend"? How would the in-laws react? How would everyone else react? You get the picture. Finally, the sequel has arrived, and thank goodness, because Duty & Devotion does a great job at tying up these loose ends and giving our couple the happily-ever-after ending they deserve.

In Duty & Devotion, we begin several months after the conclusion of F&F. Matt and Evan seem to be in a solid relationship, having bought a new house together where Matt serves as happy househusband to a bunch of happy kids while Evan continues his work as a detective. Unfortunately, things aren't quite as perfect as they seem, and a lot of that has to do with Evan's continued unease about being in a gay relationship. On one hand, he loves Matt and can't imagine life without him. On the other hand, he doesn't really identify with being gay and freaks out at the idea of other people knowing. Tension and angst ensue.

Even though Evan's attitude is somewhat disappointing and perhaps more long-lived than I would like, I certainly could understand and feel compassion for his discomfort. It's quite painful to watch as Evan tries to sort through and overcome his negative feelings while Matt becomes increasingly frustrated with the whole situation.

These problems are then compounded and brought to a head when Jim and Griffin (from Love & Loyalty) come to town and have dinner with Evan and Matt. The dinner is a terribly painful affair, casting all of Evan's issues into the spotlight. In the face of Jim and Griffin's happy, comfortable, gay relationship, Evan's own discomfort and jealousy stand out starkly. More twists and turns follow, but the major conflict in this book is the one that takes place in Evan's mind while he slowly and painfully learns to accept himself.

While perhaps not as emotionally powerful as its precursor, overall I think Duty & Devotion was a fitting conclusion for Evan and Matt's story. The quality of writing was top-notch, and the dialogue was witty and entertaining. I especially enjoyed the many light-hearted, amusing interactions between Matt and the children. Actually, I thought all the secondary characters were well-drawn and crucial parts of the overall story, which was nice to see. I was worried that Jim and Griffin's involvement in the story would seem too much like a gratuitous cameo appearance, but it wasn't that way at all; in fact, they served a great purpose to the overall plot and to Evan's own emotional evolution.

Bottom Line: Enjoyable and satisfying conclusion to Matt and Evan's story. A definite must-read for all fans of the series -- you won't be disappointed. (less)

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 26, 2013 Heather C rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, m-m, ebook, pdoc, series

Evan and Matt make me smile!

I finished Faith & Fidelity and skipped right into this one. F&F ended with a nice little HFN but I needed more of a resolution for Matt and Evan. Evan is still struggling with idea of being labeled as "gay"; Matt is playing househusband for the children who adore him. There was a little angst and a lot of sexual exploration, but I now feel confident that Evan and Matt will get that HEA.

Oh, Jim and Griffin from Love & Loyalty play a pretty significant role...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 08, 2011 Shira Anthony rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-for-you, m-m-slash, angst

I read this pretty much back to back with Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love and Devotion), the first book in the series that chronicles the love of Matt and Evan. I'm giving this one a 4.5, rounded up because of the smile I had on my face as I read! It's a lovely HEA to the original book, and explores more of the "realistic" side of relationships, for which I was grateful.

MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW: (view spoiler)...more I read this pretty much back to back with Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love and Devotion), the first book in the series that chronicles the love of Matt and Evan. I'm giving this one a 4.5, rounded up because of the smile I had on my face as I read! It's a lovely HEA to the original book, and explores more of the "realistic" side of relationships, for which I was grateful.

MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW: (view spoiler)
With a bit more detail, I'd have given this an unhesitating five stars. Still, I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to reading the third book in the series!
(less)

like · see review

Mar 26, 2010 Kassa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tere Michaels is a must read author for me (among others). I’ve really enjoyed both of her previous books and Duty & Devotion is kind of a joint sequel for the two previous books. D&D focuses on Matt and Evan with some later help from visiting Jim and Griffin. The writing is as good as the other books and the characters are wonderful to revisit. Unfortunately as much as I enjoyed reading this offering, the story is choppier and lacks the same smooth effortless of previous books. Fans wil...more Tere Michaels is a must read author for me (among others). I’ve really enjoyed both of her previous books and Duty & Devotion is kind of a joint sequel for the two previous books. D&D focuses on Matt and Evan with some later help from visiting Jim and Griffin. The writing is as good as the other books and the characters are wonderful to revisit. Unfortunately as much as I enjoyed reading this offering, the story is choppier and lacks the same smooth effortless of previous books. Fans will want to read this and no doubt be delighted by revisiting the men and getting some closure on all four. There are a few more obvious problems in this offering that the entertainment factor doesn’t entirely overcome but for the most part, a very enjoyable and satisfying read.

Matt and Evan are re-introduced in a prologue that is actually a scene from Faith & Fidelity. This helps brings any readers that didn’t read F&F (and why haven’t you!) up to date and reminds fans of where the couple left after their emotional and tough road to happiness. Now several months later the two are in a new home, jointly bought, with Matt as the househusband taking care of the shopping, cooking, feeding, and kids while Evan is the same workaholic. The two men struggle to find a balance between their roles which are eerily similar to Evan relationship with his dead wife Sherri. It’s not exactly easy for these two men as they work out some significant issues with the help of a few friends.

The plot is mostly character driven as it revolves around Evan and Matt finding a balance in their new life together. Just over halfway through the story, Jim and Griffin make an entrance inciting fights, make ups, drama, and new understanding. They linger for a good portion of the story before letting Matt and Evan have some alone time to find a lasting resolution at the end. The pacing is pretty good and the story whips along incredibly fast. One of the best parts of the book is that it picks up only a few months after the last book left off so the characters and new events feel seamless, as if the other book hadn’t ended. Matt and Evan’s relationship is not all roses and happiness once they realize they’re in love but they still have to handle 4 children (one in college, one teen and two tweens) while their own emotions are starting to settle in after the honeymoon phase.

The sequel is not as emotionally powerful and striking as the first book, but that level of drama is hard to recreate. D&D doesn’t suffer from the lack of intensity since Evan is the same moody, emotional mess that can’t let go and enjoy his happiness while Matt is the same strong force that throws himself into everything full throttle. Matt is trying to differentiate him from Sherri and her mothering role even as he loves being the one keeping the house running and the family together. Evan’s journey is more introspective as he comes to grips with being in a relationship with a man and all that entails, including sexually. It is a realistic struggle to ignore the opinions of others as well as letting himself explore the occasionally scary new territories sexually. There is a lot of sex in this book, more so than I was expecting, but considering this is an issue between the two men, all the sex scenes are understandable. Matt and Evan haven’t “gone all the way” so to speak and thus their somewhat clumsy, stuttered attempts are depicted alongside the emotional highs and los they experience.

The few missteps I had with the book were including Jim and Griffin from Love & Loyalty. Although I adore these two and their humorous antics were welcome, they kind of lingered for too long. There are several scenes from Jim’s point of view beyond the incredibly awkward introduction dinner. Jim and Griffin help Evan come to terms with his new life as a gay (or bisexual) man but I personally wanted less of them. Their inclusion is important not only for Evan’s emotional advancement but it also gives Matt an outlet in a very peripheral way. So on the one hand these scenes tie intimately to the characters and the plot, but I also felt they took away from Matt and Evan and turned the story into an almost joint sequel. The other stumbles were several misspelled words and obvious mistakes in the writing/editing portion, including some name mix ups.

Overall another delightful offering from Michaels and one that fans will definitely want to read. Although you don’t have to read either previous books first, I would recommend it. The final resolutions are sweet, fitting, and have a very satisfying end that closes the chapter neatly on all characters involved. Hopefully the author will offer a new couple to entertain us in her next release. I look forward to it and in the meantime devour this and re-read the previous books, they’re worth it.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 09, 2012 Steph rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-erotica-erotic-romances

I was so happy when I found out I could continue to read the progression of Matt and Evan's relationship. Once again we were treated to a story that brought us into the next phase of their relationship, one where Matt, Evan, and the kids have moved into a new home, and Matt is essentially the resident househusband who takes care of the kids while Evan's at work, and Evan is still your standard hard working cop who is still coming to terms with the new direction his life has taken.

Whereas Matt h...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 25, 2010 JenMcJ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-mmm-a-few-mmf-too, e-books

I laughed and I teared up during the sequel that follows Matt and Evan into their new lives as lovers and partners. Overall it feels like a realistic look with a hopeful eye toward a future of uncertainty.

My problems however, started on page one. I read Faith and Fidelity back in late 2008, probably the same day the book came out. I admit it is one of my favorite all time m/m reads and I recommend it all the time. I did not re-read it prior to reading this sequel or prior to reading Love and Lo...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 14, 2010 Karen K rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook-owned, gay-drama, gay-established, gay-faves, gay-for-you, gay-law-enforcement, gay-series-or-related, gay-romance, gay-with-kids

Ahhh - Evan and Matty are so sweet... and troubled... and insecure... and just plain lovely together. Wonderful addition to the original story. I love Matt's role in the family now, love how he's so laid back and just goes with the flow. Evan is, of course, another story but he tries so hard to be who he wants to be now, and you just have to ache for him when his mind messes with him.

This book, just like the first, is so real and respectful to the situation. I believe the doubts and confusion E...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 24, 2010 thelastaerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

A very fulfilling sequel. In first book Faith & Fidelity, readers got a HFN ending, and after this one... it's a proper HEA for Matt and Evan (well, unless Evan wants Matt to move to New Jersey!)

As always, I love Tere's writing. And her characterisation is consistent and well-drawn. OK, there's a bit of wistful thinking in the story and I thought a couple of "talking" scenes are a bit laying-it-all-out (since I subscribe to the belief that men don't really like to talk.. *g*), but overall, i...more

like · see review

Oct 05, 2012 Lirajean rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lirajean-s-sexy-series-challenge, mm-romance

These guys are awesome. Life is complicated and could be difficult but they are smart, passionate, and don't let drama build into a long term or destructive force.

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 93 94 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Romance > M M Romance

250 users

Contemporary

63 users

Romance

48 users

Gay Romance > Gay For You

23 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

18 users

Glbt > Gay

15 users

Adult Fiction > Erotica

14 users

Glbt

13 users

Childrens

11 users

M M Romance > M M Contemporary

6 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Breaking Cover
by Kaje Harper
Fish & Chips
by Abigail Roux
Strawberries for Dessert
by Marie Sexton
Making Promises
by Amy Lane
Crossing Borders
by Z.A. Maxfield

About Tere Michaels

This bio would be more interesting if I could fictionalize it...

I am an East Coast girl (Metro NYC to be exact), born and bred and with some slight princess traits. For example, "camping" is staying in a hotel without a pool.

Writing has always been my dream, my goal, the way my brain and my heart found a happy place. When I was five my mom got me a subscription to a Disney magazine and precocious...more

More about Tere Michaels...

Books by Tere Michaels

Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #1)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Duty & Devotion

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Duty & Devotion

“You broke up with me, and I spend one night with one guy who turns out to be the reason I’m even here, in domestic BLISS with your grouchy ass, and you can’t spare an evening for dinner? You are a dick.” — 10 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Duty & Devotion
avg rating	preview: Duty & Devotion Goodreads rating: 4.25 (2099 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://gr-assets.com/book/show/7889078-duty-devotion?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1269116928l/7889078.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://gr-assets.com/book/show/7889078-duty-devotion?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Duty & Devotion by Tere Michaels[/url]

Duty & Devotion (Faith, Love, & Devotion #3)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website