REVIEW: Open Roads, Open Hearts – Book 1 Bucket List Romance – Isabelle Peterson

by
Open Roads, Open Hearts Book Cover Open Roads, Open Hearts
Book 1 Bucket List Romance
Isabelle Peterson
Gay Romance, Road trip, LGBTQ+,
self
05/19/2025
Kindle
398
Amazon

Amazon Link: Amazon

HAYES
I say yes to adventure. To spontaneity. But that’s probably why all my relationships ended in heartbreak—for me. So, I swore off dating for a year. Figure out who I am and what I want.

Then my dear friend Emilee was killed in a car crash. She’d started a Bucket List, but much had been unfinished—she was only 27. So, when our group decided to tackle her bucket list, I chose: Take a road trip with my brother.

I don’t have a brother, but Emilee did. An older, sexy as hell, very straight, international pilot brother. A road trip with him will be fun, meaningful… and platonic. A totally uncomplicated five day, no temptations trip.

Except Gabe wasn’t all that was ‘advertised,’ and every hour on the road makes staying detached harder.

If I’m not careful, I won’t just break my own rules—I’ll break my heart.

GABE

Love means loss. I’ve buried my parents, my first boyfriend, and most recently, my baby sister. That’s why I keep people at arm’s length. It’s safer that way. Especially when being openly gay in the cockpit still raises eyebrows.

So why did I say yes to a road trip with Hayes? Maybe because he reminds me of Emilee. Maybe because, for the first time in years, I don’t feel like I’m free-falling. Or maybe… I’m tired of flying solo.

Because Hayes isn’t just Emilee’s best friend. He’s funny. Obscenely positive. Loyal. Off-limits. Stupidly gorgeous. And unraveling every defense I’ve ever built.

When the trip ends, I’ll have to choose: keep flying… or finally land where I belong. Because love might mean loss… but maybe, this time, it also means home.

Open Roads, Open Hearts is a heartfelt, steamy MM romance about love, loss, and taking the leap—because sometimes, the best destinations are the ones you never planned.

Review By Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

Amazon Link: Amazon

Hayes Warner just lost his best friend Emilee, just twenty-seven and dead when a drunk driver hit her car. Emilee was a member of their friends’ group, once nine now eight.
During their time of mourning, Hayes and the others reviewed her journal, which included her bucket list.
It was decided that each person would take one of her bucket list items and finish it in honor of her. Hayes read about her wish for a round trip with her brother, her brother Gabe who is sitting in the bar they are in. Hayes decides that the round trip is what he would undertake if Gabe agreed.
Gabe is deeply affected by the loss of his younger sister. When Hayes proposes embarking on the round trip, Gabe agrees to bid his final farewell and seek closure. This journey would serve to honor Emilee. The trip is planned to New Orleans and seeing and doing everything they know Emilee would love.
The drive is long and silent except for Hayes who can’t seem to stop talking. Gabe lives up to the nickname Emilee gave him, Mr. Cactus. Hayes is attracted to Gabe but has no idea if he is gay or not. Emilee always talked about him finding a nice girl, marrying and making her an aunt so he was either in the closet or straight.
They visit Mark Twain’s home; the Titanic Museum and all the places they know Emilee would love. The trip would be written up in her journal, one item finished. Hayes does his best to get Gabe talking but it doesn’t work, every time he talks about Emilee Gabe seems distressed.
Finally, after Gabe tries to shut Hayes up, he does the one thing he knows will shut his mouth he kisses him, and now the question of his sexual orientation is answered. The kiss was amazing, but Gabe refuses to talk about it and regrets his actions.
As Gabe and Hayes grow closer Gabe knows he will never get into a relationship, he has lost too many people, best friend, parents, grandparents and now his sister and is afraid of losing anyone else. He also is afraid to let others know he is gay for fear of the ridicule and losing his reputation as a pilot. Saying that there is a lot more to the story of finding himself and accepting his loses.
This started as an effort to complete a friend’s bucket list but evolved into something different.

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