It's Complicated (Tucker Springs, #7) in Riptide Publishing

Mar 22, 2014 Heather C rated it liked it

Shelves: ebook, m-m, contemporary-romance, series, cloud, established-lovers, the-blogger-girls

I’m a big sucker for the Tucker Springs books and I just can’t help myself every time there’s a new one. I don’t even see what they are about; I just dive right in. For It’s Complicated, I did have the opportunity at GRL 2013 to hear L.A. Witt read a big revealing scene from early on in the story, and if you’ve read the blurb already, you can probably guess what scene that might be! So I knew a little about what I was getting in to. I will admit, established couples or reunion stories are no ...more

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May 01, 2014 Jody rated it really liked it

The title of this book is very appropriate as the journey to HEA proves difficult for two men struggling to balance the drama of real life and love. From the first page to the last theirs is an emotionally draining story where their happiness is in doubt to the very end....

Jeff and Brad have had a tumultuous relationship with a few break-ups along the way. But just when things start to look up for them Jeff's ex-wife deals an unexpected blow to their recommitment that once again has them struggl The title of this book is very appropriate as the journey to HEA proves difficult for two men struggling to balance the drama of real life and love. From the first page to the last theirs is an emotionally draining story where their happiness is in doubt to the very end....

Jeff and Brad have had a tumultuous relationship with a few break-ups along the way. But just when things start to look up for them Jeff's ex-wife deals an unexpected blow to their recommitment that once again has them struggling to decide what's most important to them and just how much fight they have left in them. Brad is a truly understanding man, the one who always compromises, and I felt sympathetic towards him as he was the one often left out in the cold behind Jeff's work, his ex-wife, and the child soon to be born. He was drawn to Jeff against all he knew to be true about where he stood but still fought to keep them together. He even wanted to go to a couples counselor which was nixed by Jeff too. He was willing to put forth the effort in their relationship whereas Jeff just let things happen. Jeff wanted to have everything his way and expected Brad to be there whenever he could find the time for him. I was especially disappointed by his interlude with his ex-wife, even though he and Brad were on a break. It felt like a betrayal as he had no care for the possible ramifications of their encounter. He wanted to bury his problems instead of dealing with then head-on like Brad and it wasn't until the very end that I felt his commitment to Brad.

Their HEA still feels uncertain, to me at least, and I hope future installments will revisit these lovers to see how they're fairing. It's clear that their connection is strong on a physical level as is seen by their numerous steamy encounters. It's outside the bedroom that they struggled and that forced them to put forth the effort to be together. In this struggle it was especially nice that Brad had the support of couples seen in previous Tucker Springs books as he was often on his own. It was inspirational seeing such compatible couples still together and gave Brad hope. From start to finish this was an emotionally draining read that left me exhausted and frustrated at times. The characters, especially Jeff and his ex-wife Christine, might not have acted as I wish they would have but I was still fully immersed in the story's outcome and applaud Ms. Witt's not taking the easy way out in depicting Brad and Jeff's relationship. ...more

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