Novella- Outside In MM Romance
Andrew Grey Books
Aug 15, 2023
Kindle
99
Amazon
Years of relocating without putting down roots have left Daniel Houseworth filled with anxiety, as change piled on change. Finally buying a home, he wants a settled life, one he can count on. The tall, broad, and strong man across the street catches his eye. But to Daniel, Stanley is the epitome of intimidating—just what he doesn’t need, regardless of how scorching hot he may be.
Nonprofit economic development specialist Stanley Jackson knows he can be unapproachable, with his wide build, tattooed arms, close-cropped hair, and dark eyes. He’s noticed his intriguingly endearing new neighbor, Daniel, and the way he avoids him. But when Daniel brings home a lost kid goat, Stanley cautiously approaches him and offers help to find Delia a proper home.
Daniel quickly comes to care for his charge and does his best to put his anxiousness aside for her sake. As Daniel gets to know Stanley’s heart, the once intimidating qualities shift to intense attraction. But just as Daniel begins to let his guard down and trust that hunky Stanley could feel the same about him, Stanley is presented with a job offer that could stop their budding relationship in its tracks
Reviewed by Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Daniel Houseworth has moved seven times in the past six years but now he has settled in Milwaukee and has bought his first home. Daniel is a man who has lived in the cocoon he builds around himself always staying in places he is familiar with but now he has found a place to settle down. His parents are very accepting of his being gay, but he is alone. When asked what sport he is good at he said breaking out of lockers in high school, sadly he was a victim of cruel bullying something that can affect a person for life. Then he sees his neighbor across the street, a man huge covered in tattoos making Daniel wonder what kind of place he has picked to live. He sees a man who he pictures as his next bully.
Stanley Jackson is everything Daniel saw, and he is often intimidating but that is what’s outside, what’s inside is the total opposite and if Daniel can get over his fear, he might see it for himself. When Daniel rescues a baby goat lying in a ravine, he doesn’t hesitate to take her home, visit a pet store and get everything the baby goat could need, even a name, Delia. When Stanley comes across the street and offers to help watch Delia, Daniel slowly lets his guard down and tries to put his fear aside.
As Daniel and Stanley spend time together, they realize that they have both been running from attachments, Stanley takes assignments that take him to various countries for sometimes months at a time and Daniel runs from involvements and anything new. A little goat named Delia breaks the ice and the two men begin to find joy being together, but for how long.
This was a very short story but still managed to capture my attention because it was about two men who were night and day from each other but still craved the same things. Unlike Daniel, Stanley’s family showed him the door and locked it rather than accepting he was bi. After years of not talking his family suddenly shows up and it is the classic case of, I don’t want you till I need you.
Once again, I made the mistake of beginning this book in the late evening which meant I would be up late until the book was finished but as always it was well worth the lack of sleep.