Review: The Sum of Everything by April Kelley

Posted May 10, 2015 by Shannon in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review:  The Sum of Everything by April KelleyThe Sum Of Everything by April Kelley
Series: Pickleville #2
Genres: Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay, Romance
Published by Extasy Books Publication Date: March 15th 2015
Pages: 148
Also in this series: Whispers of Home, Fixing What’s Bent, A Tarnished Strength
Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org
Find on: Goodreads
four-stars

They say opposites attract but can they make love last?

Greg Mitchell’s entire childhood was filled with violence and abuse—that is, until he came to work on the Heath Farm. His life has forever changed for the better, including meeting Brian Stockwell. From the first moment Greg met Brian he’s been in love. But a threat his father made four years ago has always held him back from pursuing any real relationship with Brian—until he learns his father is on his deathbed and of no further harm to himself or Brian.

Greg finds out his family ties are stronger than he thought, and they hold him back from really getting to know Brian the way he truly wants to. Both men discover that they have more differences than they originally thought.

I’m thouroughly enjoying this series (“Pickleville”).  The romances are as sweet as they are sexy.  The characters are likable, and a lot of them are lovable.  The stories flow smoothly, and the plots are timely and real.  April Kelley should be proud!

In “The Sum of Everything”, Greg is in love with Brian…has been for awhile now, but Brian?  He’s kind of casual sex kind of guy.  You know the type, friends with benefits, but no permanent ties.  He’s got a fear of relationships, and that made me feel sad for him.  Greg sets the love story in motion with a drunken declaration that is adorable, and it makes Brian sit up and take notice.  Greg’s childhood and Brian’s skittishness lead to a difficult road for the couple.  There is just enough angst to move the story along, but not page after page of weeping and chest beating.  Our boys are very different from each other, but there is a connection that will not die.  At one point, I was very frustrated with Brian, but he stepped up to the plate and made me a very happy woman. The chemistry between the two is explosive, and when they come together, the sex is nuclear!It completely enhances their relationship.  It’s not ALL about sex, but it certainly helps 🙂

Another thing that I really liked about this book, and I did mention it a bit, was the background characters.  As this is the second installment of the series, Jaron and Travis from book one appear and are central to the story.  They’re not just filler.  Also, others come in, and it’s obvious that they’re being set up for future stories.  I thought that was great because I’m anxious to see what eles Ms. Kelley has to offer.  I recommend this one for fans of MM.  In fact, if you’re new to MM or haven’t read any yet, this is a great starter series.   I also recommend it to anyone who just likes reading about a sweet romance being built from the ground up.  You’ll smile, laugh, want to kick some ass, and most of all root for Greg and Brian.

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I am a lover of alpha males with dirty mouths, strong heroines putting alpha males in their place, and the Chicago Blackhawks. I'm a proud hockey mom who can often be found at the hockey rink cheering on my favorite forward, with my kindle close by.