Hesitant Hearts

by Jerry Cole

Patrick Wright is getting closer to forty, and he’s single by choice. The owner of a multi-million-dollar company, he’s annoyed when his friends decide to set him up with a blind date. Isaac Carter is blond, buff and the stuff dreams are made of. When Patrick suggests they pretend to date to mess with their friends, Isaac agrees.It doesn’t take long for them to decide to date for real. Patrick reveals that he’s an orphan with issues, and Isaac’s a former soldier with a past he doesn’t talk about. Between them, they make it work.Patrick’s got his problems. He’s a heavy drinker, and he’s not great with romantic relationships, something he’s constantly using as an excuse to not connect with Isaac. When Isaac reveals a best friend that Patrick didn’t know about, and with Isaac keeping secrets and blowing Patrick off, Patrick starts to wonder if Isaac is being unfaithful.With their friends trying to get them to talk, and Patrick’s determination to fix what issues he’s aware of, can they ever stand to spend time in the same room? And if they do, will they ever be able to figure out just what they mean to each other?Please Note: This book contains adult language and steamy adult activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approximately 61,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger." Themes include: Blind date, Establishing relationship, Developing feelings, Infidelity fears, Secrets, Lies, Confessions.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2019

About the author

Jerry Cole is a gay author who lives in California & enjoys writing love stories. Jerry has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings & on weekends. Jerry started writing gay romance stories several years ago, but initially just for his own entertainment & occasionally sharing stories with his friends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” & took up writing gay romance full time. When he’s not writing steamy M/M romance he enjoys globetrotting, watching movies with family and friends, working out, & being dragged down the road by his two Great Danes.

Reviews

[Cheryl_cajun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Patrick knew something was up with his friends, only he could quite guess as to what. After getting him drunk he agreed to go to a little get together with friends. Only when he and Eddie get there no one else is at the restaurant. As the hostess take him to a table who a blonde guy seats he turns to find Eddie had ditched him. Blind date to fake relationship with Isaac?  What happens when you start falling for guy but your self doubt may sabotage your relationship? Patrick just couldn't get over how great Isaac was, there was no way a guy this great was real..right?something wasn't adding up if Isaac was this good, why had he been single? again Patrick had his sabotaging thoughts popping up in his head. Can Patrick agree to change in order to keep his relationship with Isaac or will he just give up on love? Patrick self struggle with self doubt and how the world sees him is emotional in some levels. The pain he feels but doesn't want to be seen as weak is how a lot of people feel at times. When they struggle with how they can sabotage their own happiness at times. How communication goes both ways. Big or small one pain can lead to another. Trust can be a fragile thing with some people that already have self doubt about them self. A wonderful read all together.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnetism and distance – learning about love

California author Jerry Cole is a gay author who has been writing fiction since he was a child. As a young adult, he worked as a freelance writer in the evenings and on weekends. In the summer of 2015 he published his first gay romance short story on Amazon. Overwhelmed by the positive response he decided to quit his “day job” and took up writing gay romance full time. Is publications are now in the range of 65!

One of the many reasons Jerry Cole’s books are so well received is his courage in taking on problematic relationships and sharing enough insight into his character development to allow the story to be both insightful as well as erotically charged. In HESITANT HEARTS the disparity between the romantic leads includes age (Patrick is approaching forty, Isaac is young and buff), unshared personal dark secrets, commitment versus infidelity, and more. How these two men, beginning with a ‘set-up date,’ manage to stumble over blocks to their truly growing to know each other and exploring the core of a meaningful relationship makes for a story with sensitivity as well as florid erotica. Another very strong novel from the man at the top of the heap – Jerry Cole.

[Karic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hesitant Hearts is exactly what this story is about. Two men afraid to fall in love. Patrick is a rich, tech developer whose friends decide to trick him into a blind date where he meets Isaac. Although neither really was interested at first, a plan to trick their friends ends up making them both realize their feelings for each other. But with both of them having their own inner demons and battles to fight we get to see how much they fight and battle for each other. This was an interesting yet beautiful tale of two men finally deciding that now is the time for love. The characters are funny, likeable and relatable. It took me a while to learn who everyone was because there are quite a few recurring characters mentioned in the story. But they all brought something different to the tale which made the story more enjoyable. I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick is a man who is rich, smart, and the CEO of his own company. Despite lifelong friends, he feels that he is not worthy of a relationship and kills the the affair instead of giving it a chance to grow. Issac is pushed on Patrick as a blind date and the two actually start to love each other. Patrick's selfishness gets the best of him and the biggest part of Issac life, being a wounded veteran, is ignored. Patrick, up to his old tricks sets himself up for failure and Issac is just stubborn enough to let him. Now Patrick has to work on changing himself for the better and Issac needs to be able to forgive. Can these men do it? Is their love strong enough to make it through the hard times? An excellent contemporary novel by one of my favorite authors. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC book.

[Alexandra Van Keteler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Is hard and love is messy! Patrick and Isaac start fake dating after being set up on a blind date by their friends, but soon the fake relationship turns into a real one.
Patrick is a high profile multimillionaire with a bad dating history and brings all that baggage into the relationship; and Isaac doesn't know how to deal with that fame and has serious communication issues. Soon all these factors will break up their relationship.
This is the story of two men who realise that they have to take a step back to deal with their personal demons so their relationship will move forward.
A box of kleenex is advised while reading this book!

I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blind date turning into a fake relationship, which became serious and turned into love. A man who is very insecure in himself, stubborn with a runaway mouth and drinks too much, and a veteran just as stubborn. Can these two make it?
The story was very well thought through and the emotions of the characters described perfectly. It was fascinating to read. A book well worth getting.

I read a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick and Issac’s story tugged at my heartstrings. Two men with their own problems trying to make a relationship work draws you in and I soon became engrossed in their story.

Jerry Cole writes about characters with flaws and brings their stories to life. Love isn’t always smooth and easy, it is complicated and this book is encapsulates their struggles in a well written story.

I highly recommend this book, about two men learning to love.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.

[Patdbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

When scoring a Jerry Cole book I am always aware of the fact that I am a big fan and want the review to be as honest as possible. though it has a 4 star it really is a 4.5 star.
the book helps build up a picture of two men not really meant for a relationship but who desperately need one. a blind date , a bet, cupid strikes and then the shit hits the fan....the journey through the fan and the clean up I feel is done very well.

we worth the read

"I received a free advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest & unbiased review."

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blind Dates are Tricky!

Patrick and Isaac meet on a blind date...set up by their friends/work colleagues. Since Patrick has never had a successful relationship, he is reluctant to trust his immediate attraction to Isaac, and erects barriers from the beginning.

A lack of communication, by both men, causes more problems. Luckily, said friends, don't give up!

Another wonderfully written story by Mr. Cole. His characters and plots never fail to be enthralling.

[Coral Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick and Isaac start a relationship under strange terms. Patrick is not serious, an alcoholic, and never been in a relationship. Isaac intrigues him, and their communication is terrible. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story a lot because the characters made the story worth reading. The narrative was also well written. The dialogue was easy to follow. I think that this was a good way to spend my time.
I received this as an arc and freely leave my review.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was interesting and sexy and fun.. it made me smile and laugh. very good story

[Alejandro Pinto]

A story about Patrick and Isaac, two lovers that begin their relationship under unusual circumstances. Completely worth reading since the author manages to capture the struggle of someone dealing with insecurity, anxiety and sustance abuse in the form of alcohol and how it affects him and the people around him.

I loved how the main characters are portrayed, as well as ther loving friends and family. They provide a great support group while facing the harder times for both main characters.

For me it wasn't as much about the romantic side of things as it was about personal growth, learning to love yourself and stop getting in your own way. It spoke to me in a way that no previous book was able to before.

As usual, a great book by Jerry Cole.

I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review