Rustic Moment (Kristin’s review)

Title: Rustic Moment (Rustic 3)
Author: Nic Starr
Publisher: Self
Release Date: April 15, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary
Page Count: 150
Reviewed by: Kristin
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:

The last few months have been tough on Grant Parnell. He discovered his boyfriend was having an affair and it’s taken its toll, both emotionally and financially. With his business facing ruin, Grant could lose everything.

Dave Monroe is excited to start a new phase of his life. He’s following his dream and pursuing an exciting career opportunity. When Grant visits his friends in the country and finds out Dave might be moving to Melbourne, he offers him a place to stay. For Dave, life’s looking good.

Dave had only met Grant a couple of times before moving in with him, but the simmering sexual attraction is undeniable. As he settles into Grant’s home, deeper feelings develop. It’s hard not to fall for Grant’s gorgeous exterior, but it’s the strong man underneath who captures Dave’s heart.

Grant always craved success. His business and his home are testament to just how far he’s come, proving his family wrong and making something of himself—or he had. Now everything is falling apart. As Grant’s world spirals out of control, Dave is the one sure thing in his life.

But if they are to have any chance at happiness, Dave will need to teach Grant what’s really important

Oh! Bravo! This was very enjoyable! And the cover – omg! hotness!!

Rustic Moments has a good balance of relationship development and outside tension to push the personal development and thus, the relationship, forward.

I liked how the story started in Armidale and then moved away to Melbourne, so not copy of book #1 and 2. We find that the seemingly perfect Grant’s world has imploded both personally and professionally, and he’s doing his best to stay afloat. Dave is that life preserver, if Grant is willing to reach out and accept the help. The private and personal conflict was well written and believable in the ‘when it rains it pours’ adage.

Grant’s past coming back to assault him rounded out his character development and made him a more believable person. Without that tidbit of information, I think Grant’s person would have been very cookie-cutter. But seeing how deeply hurt he’d been bolstered how he was coping with his current crisis and relationship.

A couple of items dropped this from a possible five star for me: this is the third book by an Australian author where the main characters make Bolognese, and the second one by Starr. I’m beginning to think that’s the national dish of Australia. There are other pasta dishes guys can make. Just sayin’.

Toward the end of the story, Dave is upset Grant didn’t tell Dave a somewhat important [thing], and Dave finds out from the ex-boyfriend during dinner out. Dave and Grant have been intimate for a month. That does not mean you know everything about your friend, roommate or intimate partner. People married for decades don’t know everything about their spouse. I found Dave’s anger at Grant misplaced, especially when a) Dave didn’t know to what extent Grant financial troubles extended and b)Dave wasn’t vested financially in this [thing]. I am being a bit vague here to avoid spoliers.

Lastly, the romance felt a bit rushed toward the end, as if the author was trying to keep the book within certain word count. I would have liked to have seen more of Grant’s professional life to balance his private and show how he was changing.

I do want to give a shout out for how the ending was handled – the resolution was not how I expected it would go and unfortunately I can’t elaborate more than that. But, kudos to the ending.

Rustic Moments could be read as a stand-alone; there is enough back story to bring the reader up-to-speed from book one and two, but having back ground information helps with the setting.

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