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Fire and Rain #2
After the Rain
They’re going to need a bigger tent...
Henri’s list of bad exes is as long as his arm, but nothing prepared him for his latest, heart-stomping breakup. He thought he couldn’t feel more abandoned, until his ride for a group camping trip bails, leaving him stuck driving for hours with a guy who is absolutely not his type.
After breaking up with his girlfriend of five years, firefighter Logan is working up the nerve to explore his interest in men. He knows he’s gay. He just hasn’t had the guts to do anything about it...until now.
Henri’s big-city attitude and tight jeans push every last one of Logan’s buttons, and when he and Henri have to share a tent, Logan is thrilled. He should have realized Pacific Northwest weather would get wet—forcing them to strip naked.
Though the steam between them is thicker than coastal fog, Henri’s not sure he can let himself fall for another man. Not even the guy who finally treats him right.
Warning: Contains bad ex-boyfriends, even worse weather, and more than your average amount of sex in a tent. May not be suitable for those with germ phobias, outdoor aversions or fear of damp shoes.
Henri’s list of bad exes is as long as his arm, but nothing prepared him for his latest, heart-stomping breakup. He thought he couldn’t feel more abandoned, until his ride for a group camping trip bails, leaving him stuck driving for hours with a guy who is absolutely not his type.
After breaking up with his girlfriend of five years, firefighter Logan is working up the nerve to explore his interest in men. He knows he’s gay. He just hasn’t had the guts to do anything about it...until now.
Henri’s big-city attitude and tight jeans push every last one of Logan’s buttons, and when he and Henri have to share a tent, Logan is thrilled. He should have realized Pacific Northwest weather would get wet—forcing them to strip naked.
Though the steam between them is thicker than coastal fog, Henri’s not sure he can let himself fall for another man. Not even the guy who finally treats him right.
Warning: Contains bad ex-boyfriends, even worse weather, and more than your average amount of sex in a tent. May not be suitable for those with germ phobias, outdoor aversions or fear of damp shoes.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2014
15 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Harris
43 books346 followersRetired party girl and science fiction enthusiast, Daisy Harris spends most of her time writing sexy romance and plotting the fall of Western civilization. Her books can be found on Amazon, Nook, and wherever else fine erotic romance is sold.
Ms. Harris lives in Seattle, where she tortures her husband by making it rain. She enjoys watching bridges cause traffic, watching football games cause traffic, and blithely wearing wool socks with sandals.
She has never taken a single picture in which her bra strap is not showing.
Want to find out about new releases, general news, and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX
Ms. Harris lives in Seattle, where she tortures her husband by making it rain. She enjoys watching bridges cause traffic, watching football games cause traffic, and blithely wearing wool socks with sandals.
She has never taken a single picture in which her bra strap is not showing.
Want to find out about new releases, general news, and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
March 11, 2014
February 2014 seems too far away for this book, seriously. Way too long a wait.
This book is on sale today and with BOOKLOVE get an extra 30% off for a total of $2.19!
Ok, let me introduce you to wishy-washy Mandy.
This version of me is sort of between I liked it and I didn't. *sigh*
I liked Henri at first, I felt sorry for him and understood he was reeling. But how he treats Logan? I just don't understand being an ass just for the sake of being an ass. Just cause he's hurting doesn't mean he needs to put Logan down?
Logan too was a little wishy-washy Mandy causer. He was so needy and enamored with someone he just met and thought was hot, but was actually not nice to him ( or anyone else) and looked down on him.
Then I thought, oh hell, he's 20 and that's probably normal, he wants sex and the other guys hot.
Then when Henri isn't an ass he's OTT dramatic and I didn't get his reaction to the shower scene at all. Oh well..
Then he's all sweet and sees what he has been missing all this time. Alls well that ends well, I guess.
Anyway. It's fluffy and sweet and did have a great ending, even if I kept thinking it wouldn't be horrible if Henri lived on his own for a change.
And it did have a good message about safe sex..that never hurts.
This book is on sale today and with BOOKLOVE get an extra 30% off for a total of $2.19!
Ok, let me introduce you to wishy-washy Mandy.
This version of me is sort of between I liked it and I didn't. *sigh*
I liked Henri at first, I felt sorry for him and understood he was reeling. But how he treats Logan? I just don't understand being an ass just for the sake of being an ass. Just cause he's hurting doesn't mean he needs to put Logan down?
Logan too was a little wishy-washy Mandy causer. He was so needy and enamored with someone he just met and thought was hot, but was actually not nice to him ( or anyone else) and looked down on him.
Then I thought, oh hell, he's 20 and that's probably normal, he wants sex and the other guys hot.
Then when Henri isn't an ass he's OTT dramatic and I didn't get his reaction to the shower scene at all. Oh well..
Then he's all sweet and sees what he has been missing all this time. Alls well that ends well, I guess.
Anyway. It's fluffy and sweet and did have a great ending, even if I kept thinking it wouldn't be horrible if Henri lived on his own for a change.
And it did have a good message about safe sex..that never hurts.
March 13, 2014
I really liked the premise for this book. Logan, a gay firefighter who has never been with a man before, decides to go on a camping trip with some of his friends. There, he meets Henri, who was recently dumped by his asshole of an ex-boyfriend. Logan feels instantly attracted to Henri and wants to be with him, but Henri is reluctant because he still has feelings for his ex .
Most of this book takes place in the wilderness (so, yes, there were definitely some smutty scenes in a tent! ;D) I thought the writing was well done; it was very descriptive and interesting. So, why the low rating?
Well, I find that I cannot give good reviews for books where I strongly, strongly dislike one of the MCs. Logan was such a sweetie throughout the entire book. He is always nice to everyone and is never quick to judge. I definitely had no problem with this hunky fireman. The problem lay with the diva called Henri. From the get-go I did not like him and that did not change throughout the entire book. He was snide, rude, and completely condemnatory of Logan from the first moment he saw him because of the way he talked (Logan's from Texas), his clothes, and the car he drove. Even when Logan was being as nice as possible, Henri was being unbelievably bitchy and making scornful remarks. I don't care what Henri's hangups were, he had no right to treat Logan the way he did. . By the time I hit the 60% mark, I started rushing through the book in order to finish it as quickly as possible because I just could not stand Henri. I just wanted to throttle him and tell him to shove his attitude where the sun don't shine. Logan deserved so much better than this asshole.
Most of this book takes place in the wilderness (so, yes, there were definitely some smutty scenes in a tent! ;D) I thought the writing was well done; it was very descriptive and interesting. So, why the low rating?
Well, I find that I cannot give good reviews for books where I strongly, strongly dislike one of the MCs. Logan was such a sweetie throughout the entire book. He is always nice to everyone and is never quick to judge. I definitely had no problem with this hunky fireman. The problem lay with the diva called Henri. From the get-go I did not like him and that did not change throughout the entire book. He was snide, rude, and completely condemnatory of Logan from the first moment he saw him because of the way he talked (Logan's from Texas), his clothes, and the car he drove. Even when Logan was being as nice as possible, Henri was being unbelievably bitchy and making scornful remarks. I don't care what Henri's hangups were, he had no right to treat Logan the way he did. . By the time I hit the 60% mark, I started rushing through the book in order to finish it as quickly as possible because I just could not stand Henri. I just wanted to throttle him and tell him to shove his attitude where the sun don't shine. Logan deserved so much better than this asshole.
March 29, 2016
3.5 rounded up because it was a fast, easy read, with a plot topic that is too often invisible in romance. This book is only very tangentially related to the first book in the series, with little more than cameo appearances by Tomas and Jesse.
Logan is only twenty, a firefighter in the same house as Tomas. He came to the area with his girlfriend, but recently found the certainty and courage to break up and tell her he's gay. When he comes out to Tomas, he's invited on a gay men's camping trip up to Canada; given that he's too young to meet guys in local bars, he's willing to give this get-together a try.
Henri is on the rebound from the latest guy he let treat him badly. He misses the sex and the excitement, but not the attitude. He isn't planning for any kind of hook-up on this trip, let alone with a newly-out transplanted Texan. But Thomas sets them up to drive together, and share a tent, and they strike sparks off each other. There's one added wrinkle though, that keeps them from getting hot and heavy.
The rainy camping trip is fun, the characters are appealing and their mix of attraction and wariness keeps the story moving. A tricky topic is well handled, with neither excess angst not disregard. I'd have liked a little more emotional depth, and the story also ended at 84% of the file length, catching me slightly by surprise. But I enjoyed spending a couple of hours with these two guys.
Logan is only twenty, a firefighter in the same house as Tomas. He came to the area with his girlfriend, but recently found the certainty and courage to break up and tell her he's gay. When he comes out to Tomas, he's invited on a gay men's camping trip up to Canada; given that he's too young to meet guys in local bars, he's willing to give this get-together a try.
Henri is on the rebound from the latest guy he let treat him badly. He misses the sex and the excitement, but not the attitude. He isn't planning for any kind of hook-up on this trip, let alone with a newly-out transplanted Texan. But Thomas sets them up to drive together, and share a tent, and they strike sparks off each other. There's one added wrinkle though, that keeps them from getting hot and heavy.
The rainy camping trip is fun, the characters are appealing and their mix of attraction and wariness keeps the story moving. A tricky topic is well handled, with neither excess angst not disregard. I'd have liked a little more emotional depth, and the story also ended at 84% of the file length, catching me slightly by surprise. But I enjoyed spending a couple of hours with these two guys.
March 9, 2014
So, we have opposites, a newly-out character, and a weekend camping trip. Bring on the marshmallows! Oh, you want uncomfortable tent sex? Well, there’s a little bit of that too.
Henri is a little bit of a dick at the start, but it’s just his prickly outer layer. He’s snarky, overdramatic, and truly a sweetheart under all the fuss. Logan is a big, corn-fed, Texan softy. Naturally, it’s very much entertaining to watch the two interact when they first meet.
After the Rain is adorable marshmallow fluff. The story is simple, and most of it takes place over the course of one weekend. So it is insta-luv. However, since that weekend is almost the entire book, I only realized that everything moves at warp speed in retrospect.
I liked that Henri grows a little, that he takes a chance on a nice guy after his string of asshole boyfriends. Of course, Logan is the perfect candidate since he is just the teddiest Teddy Bear that ever was. Their interactions together made for the best bits of the book. They were amusing, frustrating, and in the end very sweet.
This is a light read, it has its steamy moments (because, Daisy Harris), and it’s relatively angst free. Although, it’s not all sunshine and roses; the book does deal with some serious issues, and I really like the way it’s all handled. In the end, even though I don’t think it will stick with me for a long time, After the Rain left me in a great mood. It was instantly added to my re-reads pile, and I hope Michael’s story is next!
Note: The Kindle edition ends at 89%.
3.5 Stars
More reviews at The Morning After Romance
Henri is a little bit of a dick at the start, but it’s just his prickly outer layer. He’s snarky, overdramatic, and truly a sweetheart under all the fuss. Logan is a big, corn-fed, Texan softy. Naturally, it’s very much entertaining to watch the two interact when they first meet.
After the Rain is adorable marshmallow fluff. The story is simple, and most of it takes place over the course of one weekend. So it is insta-luv. However, since that weekend is almost the entire book, I only realized that everything moves at warp speed in retrospect.
I liked that Henri grows a little, that he takes a chance on a nice guy after his string of asshole boyfriends. Of course, Logan is the perfect candidate since he is just the teddiest Teddy Bear that ever was. Their interactions together made for the best bits of the book. They were amusing, frustrating, and in the end very sweet.
This is a light read, it has its steamy moments (because, Daisy Harris), and it’s relatively angst free. Although, it’s not all sunshine and roses; the book does deal with some serious issues, and I really like the way it’s all handled. In the end, even though I don’t think it will stick with me for a long time, After the Rain left me in a great mood. It was instantly added to my re-reads pile, and I hope Michael’s story is next!
Note: The Kindle edition ends at 89%.
3.5 Stars
More reviews at The Morning After Romance
March 18, 2014
This book is OK... I actually enjoyed the first one of this series, and I was expecting more from After the Rain...
The plot itself is a little unreal and I didn't felt captivated by the characters.
The cover... I really like the cover!
The plot itself is a little unreal and I didn't felt captivated by the characters.
The cover... I really like the cover!
April 16, 2016
This time around we've got Henri. He's getting over a bad break-up with a douche canoe of a boyfriend but he's cute, he's feisty, he's French Canadian and we Canadians are nothing if not resilient and he's hot. Trust me, I'm Canadian, I've researched this.
We've also got Logan, he's from Texas and as we know everything's bigger and better in Texas, so we're safe assuming he's hot too, he's also sweet, adorable and just finding his way out of the closet.
Along with these two sweet men who each bring their own past history to the relationship we get to have a little more time with Jesse, Tomas and Michael. I love this type of series where you get new MC's every book or so but the characters from previous books are still floating around the fringes it gives me the new that's fun and interesting while still having the comfort of the familiar.
Henri and Logan are very different but at the heart of it all each of them is just wanting that special someone to love and it's an interesting and fun journey that leads them to each other.
For a nice, sweet, sexy, fun read this series is turning out to be a good choice and I'm on to book #3 so more Henri & Logan, more Jesse & Tomas and this time it's Michael's turn...well this one should be interesting because...well someone's a little grumpy.
We've also got Logan, he's from Texas and as we know everything's bigger and better in Texas, so we're safe assuming he's hot too, he's also sweet, adorable and just finding his way out of the closet.
Along with these two sweet men who each bring their own past history to the relationship we get to have a little more time with Jesse, Tomas and Michael. I love this type of series where you get new MC's every book or so but the characters from previous books are still floating around the fringes it gives me the new that's fun and interesting while still having the comfort of the familiar.
Henri and Logan are very different but at the heart of it all each of them is just wanting that special someone to love and it's an interesting and fun journey that leads them to each other.
For a nice, sweet, sexy, fun read this series is turning out to be a good choice and I'm on to book #3 so more Henri & Logan, more Jesse & Tomas and this time it's Michael's turn...well this one should be interesting because...well someone's a little grumpy.
October 29, 2016
This is so much better than the first book!
The way Logan and Henri met was convenient but probable. Their chemistry was hot and they are relatable! You guys know I'm gay, but I had a girlfriend. And when everytime Logan says he can't please his ex, I can relate to it so much. Because that's the way I felt then.
Another reviewer pointed out that there are not much Fireman stuff in From the Ashes, and unfortunately it's the same here.
But this is great. Maybe skip the first book and read this instead? Lol! Tomas and Jesse are cool though.
3.75 STARS!
The way Logan and Henri met was convenient but probable. Their chemistry was hot and they are relatable! You guys know I'm gay, but I had a girlfriend. And when everytime Logan says he can't please his ex, I can relate to it so much. Because that's the way I felt then.
Another reviewer pointed out that there are not much Fireman stuff in From the Ashes, and unfortunately it's the same here.
But this is great. Maybe skip the first book and read this instead? Lol! Tomas and Jesse are cool though.
3.75 STARS!
May 4, 2016
Logan knows he’s gay…he just has no clue what to do about it. Hugging the tail-end of twenty years old, he can’t go to bars (legally) and he knows exactly one gay man–-and he is happily shacked up with his boyfriend. Logan has never kissed a man, let alone done any explorations below the belt (except self-reconnaissance, of course), but he figures it is time to give it a whirl. No matter how much he thinks he is going to blow it.
Henri has really rotten taste in men. He knows it, but even he is shocked to find out the depths his last ex has plunged to. As if cheating wasn’t bad enough, Henri’s ex may have left him with a little going away present: . Freaked, stressed, and just worn out, Henri wants to escape for a few days.
A weekend trip into the Canadian wilds may be just the ticket. For both Logan and Henri. Logan can finally meet some men who share his love of all things cock, and Henri can escape the cloud of Preston-doom-and-gloom. At least for a few days. Neither of them is looking to fall in love. Hell, Henri is going to go out of his way to not fall into anything-–be it man, river, or mud–-unless it is his own solitary sleeping bag. But a shared tent and some wet and frosty weather might just bring the two closer to what they need. Even if they never expected to want it.
This is the second book in the Fire and Rain series, and boy was it heavy on the rain. But I guess that is what you get for camping in Canada. It is cold and wet, and gives the men plenty of excuses to strip down in their comfy little tent–-which I wholly approve of. But it wasn’t the sex romp I originally thought it would be, and I’m glad. Henri has a whole bag of issues…. I like that it took time for him to get to the point where he could admit that he wanted Logan. Or, well, admit that he trusted Logan enough to touch him. Not that I can blame him, ‘cause his track-record is pretty shitty.
Logan, on the other hand, has no clue how to go about seducing the brash and beautiful Henri. Half the time he is unsure whether he wants to throw the man out of the tent, or onto his bed. Henri sure has an abrasive attitude (which is understandable) but I liked that Logan, despite his cluelessness, went after him. He listened to Henri, understood why Henri was freaking out, but also made sure to show him that it wasn’t the end of the world, and that he could trust Logan. Logan really was the perfect blend of naiveté and strength.
I do wish that this book had been set over a longer time-frame. The few days at the campground was the setting of most the story, and it did make it hard to believe that they moved far enough along in their relationship to handle shaking up together by the end. Henri seems to have a bad habit of rushing into things, and it would have been nice to see him try and go it on his own for a bit before he and Logan move in. I get why Henri saw it as a good offer, I mean I would totally want to move in with Logan myself, but I wanted more time to build the relationship–-for both of them.
At some points I had trouble feeling the connection between the two men. Especially at the beginning…but I guess I understand it. Henri is a bit of an ass, and Logan is just starting to really find himself. I think had they had more time to feel each other out, it would have helped me see the build-up to the flames that came later. That scene with wet-suit and the ‘helping hand’ was pretty hot though. It didn’t last very long, but I think that is where I started to feel these two.
I enjoyed reading this story, and I am glad that Henri finally found someone who wasn’t a complete douche. And Logan was just great. While I would have liked to see more of them than we were given, their little weekend away was a pretty great beginning to a relationship. Not sure if I would believe it was a HEA, at least not yet, but I think by the time it hits The End they are in a spot to try and build something together that might just last. I’m also really looking forward to Michael’s story.
3.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Henri has really rotten taste in men. He knows it, but even he is shocked to find out the depths his last ex has plunged to. As if cheating wasn’t bad enough, Henri’s ex may have left him with a little going away present: . Freaked, stressed, and just worn out, Henri wants to escape for a few days.
A weekend trip into the Canadian wilds may be just the ticket. For both Logan and Henri. Logan can finally meet some men who share his love of all things cock, and Henri can escape the cloud of Preston-doom-and-gloom. At least for a few days. Neither of them is looking to fall in love. Hell, Henri is going to go out of his way to not fall into anything-–be it man, river, or mud–-unless it is his own solitary sleeping bag. But a shared tent and some wet and frosty weather might just bring the two closer to what they need. Even if they never expected to want it.
This is the second book in the Fire and Rain series, and boy was it heavy on the rain. But I guess that is what you get for camping in Canada. It is cold and wet, and gives the men plenty of excuses to strip down in their comfy little tent–-which I wholly approve of. But it wasn’t the sex romp I originally thought it would be, and I’m glad. Henri has a whole bag of issues…. I like that it took time for him to get to the point where he could admit that he wanted Logan. Or, well, admit that he trusted Logan enough to touch him. Not that I can blame him, ‘cause his track-record is pretty shitty.
Logan, on the other hand, has no clue how to go about seducing the brash and beautiful Henri. Half the time he is unsure whether he wants to throw the man out of the tent, or onto his bed. Henri sure has an abrasive attitude (which is understandable) but I liked that Logan, despite his cluelessness, went after him. He listened to Henri, understood why Henri was freaking out, but also made sure to show him that it wasn’t the end of the world, and that he could trust Logan. Logan really was the perfect blend of naiveté and strength.
I do wish that this book had been set over a longer time-frame. The few days at the campground was the setting of most the story, and it did make it hard to believe that they moved far enough along in their relationship to handle shaking up together by the end. Henri seems to have a bad habit of rushing into things, and it would have been nice to see him try and go it on his own for a bit before he and Logan move in. I get why Henri saw it as a good offer, I mean I would totally want to move in with Logan myself, but I wanted more time to build the relationship–-for both of them.
At some points I had trouble feeling the connection between the two men. Especially at the beginning…but I guess I understand it. Henri is a bit of an ass, and Logan is just starting to really find himself. I think had they had more time to feel each other out, it would have helped me see the build-up to the flames that came later. That scene with wet-suit and the ‘helping hand’ was pretty hot though. It didn’t last very long, but I think that is where I started to feel these two.
I enjoyed reading this story, and I am glad that Henri finally found someone who wasn’t a complete douche. And Logan was just great. While I would have liked to see more of them than we were given, their little weekend away was a pretty great beginning to a relationship. Not sure if I would believe it was a HEA, at least not yet, but I think by the time it hits The End they are in a spot to try and build something together that might just last. I’m also really looking forward to Michael’s story.
3.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
March 15, 2014
Daisy Harris writes exactly the type of books that she loves to read - well-written ones about sweet, relatable characters. No major angst; just a feel-good read that'll make you smile and laugh. In After the Rain, one of the main characters is a firefighting cowboy, gay sex virgin, who saves puppies, and the other is a snarky French-Canadian obsessed with coffee. Of course I loved it. With characters like that, my ovaries never stood a chance!
I will warn people that there is significant emphasis on safe sex in this one. This may not float everyone's boat, but I think it's an important message and while it was ever-present in the story, I thought that it was dealt with in a deft manner.
Favourite quote:
"He'd had sex with a man. Okay, not sex exactly. But he'd gotten Henri off. It hadn't even been difficult. Logan was, like, the cock whisperer."
I will warn people that there is significant emphasis on safe sex in this one. This may not float everyone's boat, but I think it's an important message and while it was ever-present in the story, I thought that it was dealt with in a deft manner.
Favourite quote:
"He'd had sex with a man. Okay, not sex exactly. But he'd gotten Henri off. It hadn't even been difficult. Logan was, like, the cock whisperer."
October 23, 2013
I beta read this, so I might not be as impartial here, but I love camping books and I love fire fighters and I love virgin heroes so give me a virgin cowboy fire fighter hero stuck in the woods with a mouthy city boy? Made of total win. Logan is just the best kind alpha hero--caretaking heart of gold--and Henri is a great foil for him. They are both on the rebound which is another trope I always like. Oh and tent smex FTW. This is book #2 in the series, but it stands very nicely on its own because Tomas and Jesse (Book #1) have only a minor secondary role.
February 12, 2014
Reviewed here first: http://smexybooks.com/2014/02/review-...
Henri Serre has not made very good choices where the men in his life are concerned. Preston, his boyfriend of about a year, tells Henri that he’s met someone else and in a blink Henri finds himself sleeping on the couch at his best friends studio. When he goes to collect the last of his things from Preston’s apartment, thinking Preston might just ask him to come back, he couldn’t have been more wrong.
Logan has known that he was gay for a while now, though coming to terms with it and breaking up with this girlfriend of five years has weighed heavily on him. Now that’s he’s taken that first step, however, he’s anxious to move forward and explore his options. He doesn’t quite know how or where to start; so when a coworker invites him to join him and his boyfriend and some friends on a camping trip Logan figures he’s got nothing to lose.
When Logan first meets Henri he really likes what he sees, but Henri is a bit cold and hardly welcoming. Henri has his reasons and Logan is hardly his type, but when circumstances keep pushing these two together, they find an uneasy friendship. But something is holding Henri back from just letting go and Logan is determined to figure out why.
After The Rain is an adorable story of two young men thrown together by chance but who eventually find something more than just a weekend hook-up. Logan is hoping that the gorgeous guy he has the luck of sharing a tent with is going to be interested in fooling around. He’s newly out and anxious to explore sex with a man and he would be all over Henri if he’d just give Logan a sign. But Henri is still hurt and angry about his recent breakup and if that wasn’t enough, Preston’s parting gift to Henri is the news that he may have been exposed to an STD. Though Henri’s initial test is negative, he has to retake it in three weeks to be sure.
But it’s not long before Henri starts to notice little things about Logan that he likes. Not only the physical aspects but his kindness, his sense of humor, and his caring nature. These are attributes new to Henri who had always seemed to gravitate to guys who were superficial and didn’t always treat him with respect. It’s not long before he finds himself letting down that wall he’s put up between them, letting Logan know exactly what’s been going on in his head, and giving in to their mutual attraction.
This story read a bit like a New Adult for me. It may have been because I kept getting the feeling of Logan’s innocence and vulnerability. He’s naive as well and though it was cute it reminded me how young these men were. Though Henri is definitely the more experienced here, his vulnerability comes through also. He’s made some really poor choices in his previous relationships and he’s totally unprepared for Logan who treats him, maybe for the first time, with respect. I loved this aspect of the story; Henri coming to the realization of what he’d missed by dating such superficial men, thinking that was what would make him happy. That he could have so much more and give so much more as well. That said, there is a bit of insta-love here. Logan may have experienced a long term relationship, but with Henri being his first male lover, the rush to “I love you” after a long weekend again reminded me of their youth.
At the same time, these two have to deal with a very grown up issue with the possibility of Henri being exposed to an STD. This issue is handled well here, with Henri being honest and upfront from the beginning. I appreciated how the author dealt with the issue in this story and the expression of the emotions involved as well as the safety concerns. It wasn’t glossed over in any way.
Ms. Harris has become a favorite m/m author to me. I adore her ability to give me a story that on the surface seems light and sexy but when you pay attention gives you an emotional content that is moving. It’s evident in this story as we watch Logan and Henri find their way. I look forward to the next in this series which will feature Michael, Henri’s best friend.
Henri Serre has not made very good choices where the men in his life are concerned. Preston, his boyfriend of about a year, tells Henri that he’s met someone else and in a blink Henri finds himself sleeping on the couch at his best friends studio. When he goes to collect the last of his things from Preston’s apartment, thinking Preston might just ask him to come back, he couldn’t have been more wrong.
Logan has known that he was gay for a while now, though coming to terms with it and breaking up with this girlfriend of five years has weighed heavily on him. Now that’s he’s taken that first step, however, he’s anxious to move forward and explore his options. He doesn’t quite know how or where to start; so when a coworker invites him to join him and his boyfriend and some friends on a camping trip Logan figures he’s got nothing to lose.
When Logan first meets Henri he really likes what he sees, but Henri is a bit cold and hardly welcoming. Henri has his reasons and Logan is hardly his type, but when circumstances keep pushing these two together, they find an uneasy friendship. But something is holding Henri back from just letting go and Logan is determined to figure out why.
After The Rain is an adorable story of two young men thrown together by chance but who eventually find something more than just a weekend hook-up. Logan is hoping that the gorgeous guy he has the luck of sharing a tent with is going to be interested in fooling around. He’s newly out and anxious to explore sex with a man and he would be all over Henri if he’d just give Logan a sign. But Henri is still hurt and angry about his recent breakup and if that wasn’t enough, Preston’s parting gift to Henri is the news that he may have been exposed to an STD. Though Henri’s initial test is negative, he has to retake it in three weeks to be sure.
But it’s not long before Henri starts to notice little things about Logan that he likes. Not only the physical aspects but his kindness, his sense of humor, and his caring nature. These are attributes new to Henri who had always seemed to gravitate to guys who were superficial and didn’t always treat him with respect. It’s not long before he finds himself letting down that wall he’s put up between them, letting Logan know exactly what’s been going on in his head, and giving in to their mutual attraction.
This story read a bit like a New Adult for me. It may have been because I kept getting the feeling of Logan’s innocence and vulnerability. He’s naive as well and though it was cute it reminded me how young these men were. Though Henri is definitely the more experienced here, his vulnerability comes through also. He’s made some really poor choices in his previous relationships and he’s totally unprepared for Logan who treats him, maybe for the first time, with respect. I loved this aspect of the story; Henri coming to the realization of what he’d missed by dating such superficial men, thinking that was what would make him happy. That he could have so much more and give so much more as well. That said, there is a bit of insta-love here. Logan may have experienced a long term relationship, but with Henri being his first male lover, the rush to “I love you” after a long weekend again reminded me of their youth.
At the same time, these two have to deal with a very grown up issue with the possibility of Henri being exposed to an STD. This issue is handled well here, with Henri being honest and upfront from the beginning. I appreciated how the author dealt with the issue in this story and the expression of the emotions involved as well as the safety concerns. It wasn’t glossed over in any way.
Ms. Harris has become a favorite m/m author to me. I adore her ability to give me a story that on the surface seems light and sexy but when you pay attention gives you an emotional content that is moving. It’s evident in this story as we watch Logan and Henri find their way. I look forward to the next in this series which will feature Michael, Henri’s best friend.
March 22, 2014
I think this may be my least favorite Daisy Harris book. One of the reasons I looked forward to this Fire and Rain series was because I hoped we would be moving away from the NA themes of Holsum College into more adult romances. Alas, we are not. And unfortunately that was the least of my problems.
The story follows 20 year-old firefighter Logan, as he embarks on a gay camping trip to find his first boyfriend. He recently broke up with his only lover, a woman, and now he wants to pursue the attraction he has always felt to men. He is a loveable softie with a Texas twang and aw’shucks demeanor. He’s a little… eager, but generally a good guy. I can’t say the same for his love interest, Henri. Henri is a total asshat. It’s hard to get into a romance when one of the guys is a dick.
Henri is nursing a broken heart because his boyfriend dumped him and may have exposed him to herpes on the way out. So he takes out his unhappiness on everyone else, with snarky comments and a generally bad attitude. He isn’t very nice to Logan and thinks about him quite uncharitably in the first half of the book. In the second half, they get physical and fall in insta-love.
This was my second big issue. They have sex within, like, two days of meeting, despite the fact that one thinks he has VD. They are living together by the end of the weekend. And they are happily every after 3 WEEKS AFTER THEY MET. I am sorry, but I can’t suspend my disbelief quite that far. I didn’t like Henri. I didn’t believe in anything but lust and neediness between these two. And I surely wasn’t down with their forever love in less than a month.
This was just not good for me. I would have liked to see a bit a maturity from even just one of the character. Or some realistic emotion. What I got was some fairly good sex, but it wasn’t even as good as I usually get from Harris. Disappointing.
Rating: C-
*ARC provided by author for review
The story follows 20 year-old firefighter Logan, as he embarks on a gay camping trip to find his first boyfriend. He recently broke up with his only lover, a woman, and now he wants to pursue the attraction he has always felt to men. He is a loveable softie with a Texas twang and aw’shucks demeanor. He’s a little… eager, but generally a good guy. I can’t say the same for his love interest, Henri. Henri is a total asshat. It’s hard to get into a romance when one of the guys is a dick.
Henri is nursing a broken heart because his boyfriend dumped him and may have exposed him to herpes on the way out. So he takes out his unhappiness on everyone else, with snarky comments and a generally bad attitude. He isn’t very nice to Logan and thinks about him quite uncharitably in the first half of the book. In the second half, they get physical and fall in insta-love.
This was my second big issue. They have sex within, like, two days of meeting, despite the fact that one thinks he has VD. They are living together by the end of the weekend. And they are happily every after 3 WEEKS AFTER THEY MET. I am sorry, but I can’t suspend my disbelief quite that far. I didn’t like Henri. I didn’t believe in anything but lust and neediness between these two. And I surely wasn’t down with their forever love in less than a month.
This was just not good for me. I would have liked to see a bit a maturity from even just one of the character. Or some realistic emotion. What I got was some fairly good sex, but it wasn’t even as good as I usually get from Harris. Disappointing.
Rating: C-
*ARC provided by author for review
February 11, 2014
To read my full review, please visit http://onsilverwingz.blogspot.com/201...
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars
Henri just broke up with a posh, stuck-up ex-boyfriend that cheats on him. He goes on a camping trip with friends and meets Logan, who's from Texas and new to the gay scene. Or maybe their friends set up them...
This is a very sweet romance about Henri falling for another guy that's not his type. He likes the classy, posh type of men, like his ex boyfriends. He's attracted to Logan but he's not used to his personality. On top of that, he has an STD scare from his cheating ex. He's insecure and afraid of physical intimacies at the moment. Logan's appearance at the camp and being his friend actually helps Henri to open his mind to trying new things and accepting new love.
Logan is the perfect caring boyfriend in the story. Even though he is on the rebound after breaking up with his girlfriend, he puts Henri as his first priority. His shyness and quiet confidence regarding gay sex is endearing. His personality and adventurous nature makes this book a fun read.
The romance is okay, though I'm not totally convinced that Logan will stay with Henri forever. He's a very caring, idealistic guy and Henri is his first boyfriend. Henri's past boyfriends are very different from Logan's down-to-earth feel. Although Henri's STD scare does create some interesting sexual tensions between the two, which leads to them finding unexpected, safes ways to make out.
The interesting part is reading about how Henri tries things he's not used to (ie. camping) and gets over a past love to welcome another love with an open heart and mind. The plot and characters are simple without seeming too shallow. After the Rain is a fast read with a sweet and easy romance.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars
Henri just broke up with a posh, stuck-up ex-boyfriend that cheats on him. He goes on a camping trip with friends and meets Logan, who's from Texas and new to the gay scene. Or maybe their friends set up them...
This is a very sweet romance about Henri falling for another guy that's not his type. He likes the classy, posh type of men, like his ex boyfriends. He's attracted to Logan but he's not used to his personality. On top of that, he has an STD scare from his cheating ex. He's insecure and afraid of physical intimacies at the moment. Logan's appearance at the camp and being his friend actually helps Henri to open his mind to trying new things and accepting new love.
Logan is the perfect caring boyfriend in the story. Even though he is on the rebound after breaking up with his girlfriend, he puts Henri as his first priority. His shyness and quiet confidence regarding gay sex is endearing. His personality and adventurous nature makes this book a fun read.
The romance is okay, though I'm not totally convinced that Logan will stay with Henri forever. He's a very caring, idealistic guy and Henri is his first boyfriend. Henri's past boyfriends are very different from Logan's down-to-earth feel. Although Henri's STD scare does create some interesting sexual tensions between the two, which leads to them finding unexpected, safes ways to make out.
The interesting part is reading about how Henri tries things he's not used to (ie. camping) and gets over a past love to welcome another love with an open heart and mind. The plot and characters are simple without seeming too shallow. After the Rain is a fast read with a sweet and easy romance.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
November 25, 2013
Psst, Daisy Harris has given us a cowboy. She has treated her readers to a cowboy that you are gonna LOVE! Logan is this super sexy and oh so sweet Texan. He’s an interesting mix of strong and dominating, and sweet and innocent. Logan has been living the life of a straight man but he knows he’s gay. He’s not looking to explore possibilities with other men. Logan is trying to figure out how to look for another gay man to be with. All of this with Logan’s personality makes for some great reading. You want Logan to experience all there is to be experienced in life and be happy doing it. He is so easily likable with southern drawl and a heart bigger than Texas.
Henri decides before even getting to know Logan that he does not want to experience a long cramped car trip with the good ole boy who is looking at him with the such glee. Henri simply wants to get on with the camping trip and stress some more about the latest crap stunt one of his numerous crap ex���s has pulled. Between the rain, the lack of available tents, and the sexy cowboy Henri is about to have everything he has ever thought he knew about relationships blown about like a Texas tornado.
I love a good opposites attract romance. After the Rain is exactly that. Henri and Logan don’t have too many obstacles between them and their happily ever after. They just have themselves and a long weekend camping trip where the size of the tent forces them to get to know one another.
Henri decides before even getting to know Logan that he does not want to experience a long cramped car trip with the good ole boy who is looking at him with the such glee. Henri simply wants to get on with the camping trip and stress some more about the latest crap stunt one of his numerous crap ex���s has pulled. Between the rain, the lack of available tents, and the sexy cowboy Henri is about to have everything he has ever thought he knew about relationships blown about like a Texas tornado.
I love a good opposites attract romance. After the Rain is exactly that. Henri and Logan don’t have too many obstacles between them and their happily ever after. They just have themselves and a long weekend camping trip where the size of the tent forces them to get to know one another.
June 9, 2018
With a couple that is in many ways as unlikely to match as Jesse and Tomas in the first book of this series, the characters, dynamics, and issues in this second volume are still very different. Logan isn’t necessarily afraid of coming out, he just really doesn’t have a reason – until he meets Henri. Henri is out and proud, but he has had some awful experiences with boyfriends, and the most recent has made him swear off relationships. And the fact that these two very different men don’t really hit it off very well only to get stuck in a small tent during a camping trip just adds enough drama to make this a very interesting read.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 28, 2015
This was a sweet read ... Logan was lovely and although it took me a while to start liking Henri, I ended up rooting for them to reach their HEA ... although this is part of a series, After the Rain can easily be read as a stand-alone which is great ... there is a wee bit of insta-love but given the intensity of their weekend camping, I was happy to go along without too much cynicism ... recommended for lovers of snark and accomplished virgins.
March 11, 2016
Great camping story! But both guys' mood swings drove me batty! One minute they were all sweet and shy. Then next, pissed off and storming away. Sheesh! This was a fairly low angst story despite the fact that Henri was dealing with potential STD. Very sweet. I'm seriously becoming a big fan of Daisy Harris
December 2, 2015
This was a very sweet read, I loved the MC's and the sexual tension between them. I have to say that I didn't always understand their behaviour, but I still liked the story very much. It would be great to read more about these two! 4 stars!
April 15, 2014
So much better than the first in this series. Extremely sexy, totally emotional. Loved these two MCs, really rooted for their HEA. Can't wait for the next in this series.
October 3, 2017
Henri has put up with enough horrible exes, but the chance of an STI is too much to bear. Fireman Logan has been living a lie with his girlfriend, finally admitting to her that he's gay. Mutual friends put them together on a camping trip to Canada and sparks flew from the first moment. I loved how Logan didn't shy away from Henri, even knowing the possibilities, instead using his medical knowledge as an EMT to do research and try and reassure Henri without minimizing his feelings. I would have loved to have known what Logan This was an overall sweet and sexy story that wasn't too preachy about safe sex.
February 12, 2014
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-rain-d...
Before I get into my review I just want give a cyber high five to whomever designs the beautiful covers for this series. They make my inner cover whore jump for joy every time I see them.
The second book in Daisy Harris’s Fire and Rain series tells the story of Henri and Logan. If you haven’t read the first book in this series, From the Ashes, Henri is Jesse’s friend and co-worker. He’s a sarcastic city boy with bad taste in men, good taste in fashion and a lot of experience dating. He is in kind of a rut and a little bit depressed after breaking up with his boyfriend, and that’s before he realizes that his cheating ex might have given him a sexually transmitted disease. He currently lives with his friend Michael, which is not the happiest of arrangements, works part time at a coffee shop and is a full time student with no idea what he really wants to do with his life. He goes with his friends on a camping trip hoping to keep his mind off his crappy living situation, stressful health condition and his ongoing fascination with his ex, but then he meets Logan and doesn’t know what to think.
Logan is firefighter from Texas who has finally admitted the truth of his sexuality to himself and his long term girlfriend. Now that he is a free man he’s more than ready to jump into the gay dating game. His only problem is trying to figure out exactly how to go about asking another man for a date. His first try is one of his co-workers, Tomas. He’s quickly turned down, but invited to participate in an upcoming camping trip. That’s when he meets Henri and instantly falls into lust. Not love mind you, because Henri isn’t the warmest of people, but lust.
Henri and Logan are total opposites. While Logan is a good old boy, new to exploring his sexuality and not up for playing mind games of any kind, he’s so completely different from any man Henri has ever dated that he doesn’t know what to believe. At first he thinks it’s an act, then he accuses Logan of playing stupid, then he pushes him away repeatedly because of his health issue. Henri was not the most likable character at first, but starts to soften when he realizes that Logan is genuine. These men are extremely attracted to each other, but Henri doesn’t want to see anyone get hurt by something his ex did. Logan has to talk the other man into touching and exploring the safe sex options available to them. And it’s sexy… very, very sexy.
This story takes place over a long weekend camping, so everything moves fast. The getting to know you, falling into bed and the let’s move in and have a relationship. It’s all very fast moving and had that insta-love feel to it, but it has just the right amount of sweet and dirty to make up for it. Logan is so kind, protective and enthusiastic about finally being able to experiment with his sexuality that you can’t help but love him a little. Some of his inner musings are so funny. He and Henri really do make a cute couple at the end, sometimes opposites really do work the best.
In the end, I truly enjoyed this romance, I had a few problems, but this couple worked for me and I really do enjoy this series. I am looking forward to Michael’s book, Nothing But Smoke, which has a release date of June 10, 2014. Final Grade- B-
Favorite Quote:
Yes! Logan’s chest was so puffed up with pride as he walked across the campground to the restaurant that he was surprised a big S wasn’t shining from it. He’d had sex with a man. Okay, not sex exactly. But he’d gotten Henri off. It hadn’t even been difficult. Logan was, like, the cock whisperer.
Before I get into my review I just want give a cyber high five to whomever designs the beautiful covers for this series. They make my inner cover whore jump for joy every time I see them.
The second book in Daisy Harris’s Fire and Rain series tells the story of Henri and Logan. If you haven’t read the first book in this series, From the Ashes, Henri is Jesse’s friend and co-worker. He’s a sarcastic city boy with bad taste in men, good taste in fashion and a lot of experience dating. He is in kind of a rut and a little bit depressed after breaking up with his boyfriend, and that’s before he realizes that his cheating ex might have given him a sexually transmitted disease. He currently lives with his friend Michael, which is not the happiest of arrangements, works part time at a coffee shop and is a full time student with no idea what he really wants to do with his life. He goes with his friends on a camping trip hoping to keep his mind off his crappy living situation, stressful health condition and his ongoing fascination with his ex, but then he meets Logan and doesn’t know what to think.
Logan is firefighter from Texas who has finally admitted the truth of his sexuality to himself and his long term girlfriend. Now that he is a free man he’s more than ready to jump into the gay dating game. His only problem is trying to figure out exactly how to go about asking another man for a date. His first try is one of his co-workers, Tomas. He’s quickly turned down, but invited to participate in an upcoming camping trip. That’s when he meets Henri and instantly falls into lust. Not love mind you, because Henri isn’t the warmest of people, but lust.
Henri and Logan are total opposites. While Logan is a good old boy, new to exploring his sexuality and not up for playing mind games of any kind, he’s so completely different from any man Henri has ever dated that he doesn’t know what to believe. At first he thinks it’s an act, then he accuses Logan of playing stupid, then he pushes him away repeatedly because of his health issue. Henri was not the most likable character at first, but starts to soften when he realizes that Logan is genuine. These men are extremely attracted to each other, but Henri doesn’t want to see anyone get hurt by something his ex did. Logan has to talk the other man into touching and exploring the safe sex options available to them. And it’s sexy… very, very sexy.
This story takes place over a long weekend camping, so everything moves fast. The getting to know you, falling into bed and the let’s move in and have a relationship. It’s all very fast moving and had that insta-love feel to it, but it has just the right amount of sweet and dirty to make up for it. Logan is so kind, protective and enthusiastic about finally being able to experiment with his sexuality that you can’t help but love him a little. Some of his inner musings are so funny. He and Henri really do make a cute couple at the end, sometimes opposites really do work the best.
In the end, I truly enjoyed this romance, I had a few problems, but this couple worked for me and I really do enjoy this series. I am looking forward to Michael’s book, Nothing But Smoke, which has a release date of June 10, 2014. Final Grade- B-
Favorite Quote:
Yes! Logan’s chest was so puffed up with pride as he walked across the campground to the restaurant that he was surprised a big S wasn’t shining from it. He’d had sex with a man. Okay, not sex exactly. But he’d gotten Henri off. It hadn’t even been difficult. Logan was, like, the cock whisperer.
February 7, 2014
4 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
I really liked this book. It’s the second in the series but follows a different couple, so could be read as a stand alone without missing out on too much. I loved both MCs in this one. Henri was superficially heartbroken and in a scary situation that causes conflict and sexual tension in the story. Logan is finally admitting to himself he’s gay and looking forward to exploring that for the first time in his life. Both men seem to be at an transitional point in their lives but neither looking for a relationship.
They’re invited on a long weekend camping trip by the couple from the first book. Henri’s friends only know he’s freshly out of a bad relationship since Henri hasn’t shared the STD scare with them. They assume a weekend in a tent with a hot guy is just what he needs to get over his bastard ex. For Logan they just think he needs to get his feet wet in the “gay experience” pool. Neither expect Ryan and Logan to get on each others nerves right from the start. Logan tries to be nice but Henri sees him as a hick who doesn’t know anything about his lifestyle. Logan is immediately attracted to Henri but the guy has a mouth on him and not in the way he was hoping for. Eventually Logan wears down the hard facade Henri puts up and they start to enjoy each others company. However, Henri is refraining from sex until he is for sure clean and that sends mixed messages to Logan who wants Henri in the worst way. Henri is also wary of jumping into another relationship and Logan seems like the type to want that. Can they get past all that and just enjoy each other and the possibility of being together after the weekend is over?
I enjoyed this one quite a bit more than the first book. It’s strange to say that the STD scare created some delicious sexual tension in this book but it really did. It basically kept Ryan from giving into the chemistry that built between the characters. Logan had no idea for most of the book that that’s the reason Ryan was resisting his advances. He just thought Ryan didn’t want him. I enjoyed how sweet Logan was and how that warmed Ryan’s heart. I love a big strong man who is also a sweetie. Gets me every time! Ryan was the more interesting and complex character of the two. He’d basically fallen into a routine of picking the wrong guys for the wrong reasons and taking whatever it was they would give him. Losing himself along the way. Logan helps him find himself by accepting the real him as he is. Which was another layer to Ryan because he comes across as so confident and strong on the outside but things aren’t always as they seem. Really good book.
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
I really liked this book. It’s the second in the series but follows a different couple, so could be read as a stand alone without missing out on too much. I loved both MCs in this one. Henri was superficially heartbroken and in a scary situation that causes conflict and sexual tension in the story. Logan is finally admitting to himself he’s gay and looking forward to exploring that for the first time in his life. Both men seem to be at an transitional point in their lives but neither looking for a relationship.
They’re invited on a long weekend camping trip by the couple from the first book. Henri’s friends only know he’s freshly out of a bad relationship since Henri hasn’t shared the STD scare with them. They assume a weekend in a tent with a hot guy is just what he needs to get over his bastard ex. For Logan they just think he needs to get his feet wet in the “gay experience” pool. Neither expect Ryan and Logan to get on each others nerves right from the start. Logan tries to be nice but Henri sees him as a hick who doesn’t know anything about his lifestyle. Logan is immediately attracted to Henri but the guy has a mouth on him and not in the way he was hoping for. Eventually Logan wears down the hard facade Henri puts up and they start to enjoy each others company. However, Henri is refraining from sex until he is for sure clean and that sends mixed messages to Logan who wants Henri in the worst way. Henri is also wary of jumping into another relationship and Logan seems like the type to want that. Can they get past all that and just enjoy each other and the possibility of being together after the weekend is over?
I enjoyed this one quite a bit more than the first book. It’s strange to say that the STD scare created some delicious sexual tension in this book but it really did. It basically kept Ryan from giving into the chemistry that built between the characters. Logan had no idea for most of the book that that’s the reason Ryan was resisting his advances. He just thought Ryan didn’t want him. I enjoyed how sweet Logan was and how that warmed Ryan’s heart. I love a big strong man who is also a sweetie. Gets me every time! Ryan was the more interesting and complex character of the two. He’d basically fallen into a routine of picking the wrong guys for the wrong reasons and taking whatever it was they would give him. Losing himself along the way. Logan helps him find himself by accepting the real him as he is. Which was another layer to Ryan because he comes across as so confident and strong on the outside but things aren’t always as they seem. Really good book.
August 31, 2016
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
4.25 Ahhh, Henri. He of the fabulous clothes and horrible boyfriends. His latest horrible boyfriend, Preston, has not only cheated but also possibly gifted Henri with herpes. Preston is unrepentant and obnoxious. He’s also the most selfish person ever, knowing his new guy had herpes and not caring enough to keep Henri out of it. Leaving doesn’t help Henri deal with the fear of what he may have contracted. He’s temporarily staying with his friend, Michael, but that’s starting to wear thin. What’s a guy to do? For starters, go camping with the guys!
For his part, Logan is, let’s just say it, shy and adorable. He’s twenty but I have to say, sometimes he seems much older, sometimes much younger. He has been in a long term relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Soleil, but he’s finally admitting who he really is. He’s never actually been with a man before but he’s ready, willing and able. If a little scared. He’s a firefighter who works with Tomas. Tomas is gay and Logan shakily asks him out, what bravery that took. Even though Tomas has a boyfriend, he does offer Logan friendship and the invitation to go camping.
It is during the camping trip that Henri and Logan begin the roller coaster of getting to know each other. Henri is surly, rude and snide most of the time. Logan is wide-eyed, unsure and happy. It’s so interesting to watch how they evolve over this time, especially when it turns out they not only have to ride together but have to share one tent.
And because Henri doesn’t want to talk about the herpes exposure and isn’t about to get close to anyone, Logan gets some painful moments. When Henri dodges Logan’s first kiss, wanted to just hug Logan. These two do not have outside influences causing havoc; instead they have themselves. This story is very much two characters finding their way.
There was a point, when Logan calls Soleil, that squeezed my heart. He’s so honest, this man. He’s also so funny sometimes. I like Logan so much, and when he is thinking he “was, like, the cock whisperer. He wanted to high-five every guy he saw.”, well, I wanted to high five him as well.
Henri, hmm. Henri begins to realize what Michael tells him, that he chooses poorly when it comes to men, is right. And maybe he should take a chance on someone unlike his usual type. Someone, maybe, like a cowboy firefighter named Logan.
And now, Michael needs his HEA as well.
4.25 Ahhh, Henri. He of the fabulous clothes and horrible boyfriends. His latest horrible boyfriend, Preston, has not only cheated but also possibly gifted Henri with herpes. Preston is unrepentant and obnoxious. He’s also the most selfish person ever, knowing his new guy had herpes and not caring enough to keep Henri out of it. Leaving doesn’t help Henri deal with the fear of what he may have contracted. He’s temporarily staying with his friend, Michael, but that’s starting to wear thin. What’s a guy to do? For starters, go camping with the guys!
For his part, Logan is, let’s just say it, shy and adorable. He’s twenty but I have to say, sometimes he seems much older, sometimes much younger. He has been in a long term relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Soleil, but he’s finally admitting who he really is. He’s never actually been with a man before but he’s ready, willing and able. If a little scared. He’s a firefighter who works with Tomas. Tomas is gay and Logan shakily asks him out, what bravery that took. Even though Tomas has a boyfriend, he does offer Logan friendship and the invitation to go camping.
It is during the camping trip that Henri and Logan begin the roller coaster of getting to know each other. Henri is surly, rude and snide most of the time. Logan is wide-eyed, unsure and happy. It’s so interesting to watch how they evolve over this time, especially when it turns out they not only have to ride together but have to share one tent.
And because Henri doesn’t want to talk about the herpes exposure and isn’t about to get close to anyone, Logan gets some painful moments. When Henri dodges Logan’s first kiss, wanted to just hug Logan. These two do not have outside influences causing havoc; instead they have themselves. This story is very much two characters finding their way.
There was a point, when Logan calls Soleil, that squeezed my heart. He’s so honest, this man. He’s also so funny sometimes. I like Logan so much, and when he is thinking he “was, like, the cock whisperer. He wanted to high-five every guy he saw.”, well, I wanted to high five him as well.
Henri, hmm. Henri begins to realize what Michael tells him, that he chooses poorly when it comes to men, is right. And maybe he should take a chance on someone unlike his usual type. Someone, maybe, like a cowboy firefighter named Logan.
And now, Michael needs his HEA as well.
January 28, 2014
3.5 stars
AFTER THE RAIN is a good follow up to a stellar book one. The characters are authentic and their romance compelling. I also loved the setting of a rainy camping trip in the Pacific Northwest.
Logan is finally ready to act on his gay attractions but he never thought French-Canadian Henri would push his buttons quite like he does. Henri is tired of having bad boyfriends and his last left him fearing intimacy. When Logan and Henri get roped into being tent-mates on a camping trip, they won't be able to avoid each other--or their attraction.
I really liked both these characters. Logan is young but ready to grab what he wants in life and that includes a boyfriend. I loved how his desire for Henri was a balance between sexual and emotional. Henri was more complicated than Logan. At times I disliked his cool, sarcastic nature, but then readers, and Logan, see how it's his protective shell against a world that's taken advantage of him. Watching these two men circle their attraction was compelling romance with lots of high drama.
Henri and Logan's friends are the couple from book one so I adored getting to see them again. The camping trip they all go on provides a good setting. Henri and Logan are tent-mates so they have to be together and this forced intimacy is the catalyst for their relationship development. I also liked that this little novel didn't end when the camping trip did but continues to follow Henri and Logan as they decide the next steps in their relationship.
AFTER THE RAIN is an above average MM romance that fans of the genre should read for its fun characters and high-drama romance.
AFTER THE RAIN is a good follow up to a stellar book one. The characters are authentic and their romance compelling. I also loved the setting of a rainy camping trip in the Pacific Northwest.
Logan is finally ready to act on his gay attractions but he never thought French-Canadian Henri would push his buttons quite like he does. Henri is tired of having bad boyfriends and his last left him fearing intimacy. When Logan and Henri get roped into being tent-mates on a camping trip, they won't be able to avoid each other--or their attraction.
I really liked both these characters. Logan is young but ready to grab what he wants in life and that includes a boyfriend. I loved how his desire for Henri was a balance between sexual and emotional. Henri was more complicated than Logan. At times I disliked his cool, sarcastic nature, but then readers, and Logan, see how it's his protective shell against a world that's taken advantage of him. Watching these two men circle their attraction was compelling romance with lots of high drama.
Henri and Logan's friends are the couple from book one so I adored getting to see them again. The camping trip they all go on provides a good setting. Henri and Logan are tent-mates so they have to be together and this forced intimacy is the catalyst for their relationship development. I also liked that this little novel didn't end when the camping trip did but continues to follow Henri and Logan as they decide the next steps in their relationship.
AFTER THE RAIN is an above average MM romance that fans of the genre should read for its fun characters and high-drama romance.
February 12, 2014
I liked this. After The Rain is one of those fast, easy, "no major angst" reads.
I didn't rate higher for a few reasons:
*The constant references to the ex became a bit redundant. "Soleil didn't feel like this" Soleil didn't, Soleil didn't. Okay I get it already! Point made, move on.
*Instalove. I am not always against Instalove; it can be fun if done well. I just don't know if I felt the chemistry between the MCs was enough to warrant it.
*Definitely a few stereotypes going on here. The tall, hunky, bumbling Texan with the southern drawl and aw-shucks attitude. The sleek, dark French Canadian with a sharp tongue and condescending attitude.
Still if you are looking for an entertaining story that you can breeze through quickly, this one fits the bill. I'd read it for just the boys camping adventures alone.
I didn't rate higher for a few reasons:
*The constant references to the ex became a bit redundant. "Soleil didn't feel like this" Soleil didn't, Soleil didn't. Okay I get it already! Point made, move on.
*Instalove. I am not always against Instalove; it can be fun if done well. I just don't know if I felt the chemistry between the MCs was enough to warrant it.
*Definitely a few stereotypes going on here. The tall, hunky, bumbling Texan with the southern drawl and aw-shucks attitude. The sleek, dark French Canadian with a sharp tongue and condescending attitude.
Still if you are looking for an entertaining story that you can breeze through quickly, this one fits the bill. I'd read it for just the boys camping adventures alone.
February 26, 2014
Not great.
I took a chance with the earlier book in this series, and now with this one. Will stop here and not read anymore of these books. They feel underdeveloped and truncated. Part of this is because they are short stories but even so something about the characters and the writing seems as if they were written in a hurry. Also it does not help that the last 15 or more pages of this book were not part of the story. This is something I don't like about books, especially short ones and especially so if it is not mentioned in the blurb that the story stops at 85% or something to that effect. So, I have given up on these books and this author.
I took a chance with the earlier book in this series, and now with this one. Will stop here and not read anymore of these books. They feel underdeveloped and truncated. Part of this is because they are short stories but even so something about the characters and the writing seems as if they were written in a hurry. Also it does not help that the last 15 or more pages of this book were not part of the story. This is something I don't like about books, especially short ones and especially so if it is not mentioned in the blurb that the story stops at 85% or something to that effect. So, I have given up on these books and this author.
February 13, 2014
There's nothing overtly wrong with this book, exactly. I just felt a lack of chemistry with the story and a lack of chemistry between the characters. I love stories where characters are put in situations of forced intimacy, so I liked the camping trip/sharing a tent plot. Unfortunately, it all felt a bit flat.
April 14, 2014
3.5 stars.
February 13, 2014
Really loving this so far.
October 18, 2013
Not quite four stars. Full review will be closer to publication, and available on my Booklikes profile as well as my blog.
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