Healed Hearts

Title: Healed Hearts
Author: Logan Meredith
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
Release Date: August 24th 2015
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 200 pages
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Blurb:

Even men afraid of donuts deserve a happy ending.

Second-grade teacher Seth Ray has experienced more than his fair share of heartbreak. On his own since his mother’s death, Seth remains burdened by frequent anxiety, which he manages by steadfastly avoiding anything that might set it off—including men whose names start with the letter J and donuts. Unfortunately, after a night with Jude Murphy, he encounters both and flees into the street.

Jude’s not your typical twenty-something-year-old gay man. The youngest of six boys, he desperately wants to start a family of his own. The puzzling morning-after with Seth reminds him why he doesn’t sleep around.

When Seth discovers the man he brushed off is the uncle of one his students, he’s compelled to smooth things over to save face, but Jude lays it on the line—he wants Seth, but he doesn’t do casual. The allure of the sexy redhead compels Seth to face an entire family of J names for a chance at happiness.

This is a very drama-filled love story between two broken (in their own ways) men.

Seven-year-old Seth was abandoned by his father after being told “I’m just going to get some donuts, son. Back soon” and was never to be seen again.

When Seth starts ninth grade he falls in love with Jason, who pursues him until they are caught kissing together and Jason and three of his friends beat Seth ruthlessly, the last thing Seth sees before unconsciousness is the bag of donuts in Jason’s hand.

He’s relentlessly bullied, beaten and tormented through high school. Then, on his graduation day, his mother is killed in an auto accident, and Seth finds out the family that killed his mother was arguing over donuts.

To say Seth suffers from a traumatic past is an understatement.

These events have taught Seth two things: a fear of donuts and men with names beginning with the letter “J”.

The story starts with this explanation (quite a bit more in depth that that, BTW), and we meet Seth’s gorgeous ginger hook-up from the night before. Who offers him a donut for breakfast. Then we find out last-night’s guy, who had introduced himself then as “Daniel”, is actually named “Jude” and Daniel is his middle name. Seth freaks out completely and runs away.

This pretty much crushes Jude who just got out of a seven year relationship and was dipping his toe back into the dating pool. Jude’s ex, Devin, broke up with him in the worst way possible and it’s taken many months for Jude to try to open himself up again.

When the two men meet again, Seth apologizes, and they begin to date. There’s a lot of hot sex, way-too-quick insta-love, and the relationship moves at warp speed.

I’m also not going to lie to you – there is some drama-filled scene in every single chapter.

Every. Single. Chapter.

Spoiler

Funnily enough – the only drama-llama episode I was ragey over was when Seth lies about who he was with when he had coffee and a couple of drinks with Asim. This whole chapter was just downright stupid. Why he didn’t answer his phone, return a text, and then lie about who he was with was just so fucking stupid to me. More stupid? Jude ending up going to the bar, binge-drinking and going home with the bartender who’s wanted to fuck him from the beginning. Needless to say, this was all completely unnecessary.

Unnecessary Bullshit

This story was maddening, exhausting, overly long, with some real over the top drama, quite a few dropped plot lines, heated sex scenes, and finally MORE drama. I was entertained and sad and angry and overwhelmed and…not bored. Even though I was shaking my head I couldn’t put it down. I had to see the next volley of crazy.