Happily Ever After Isn't Easy

I wish more gay men, who enjoy reading, would write reviews, rather than female "fellow" authors.

I thought this story was a fun read. The characters were interesting and believable. Not sure why the story contained issues or possible side stories, if there was no follow through (i.e. Brandt's Army buddy who acted oddly when a drag queen came to the house)...with the continual reference to his behavior, I just presumed that would be adresssed. But it wasn't.

The ending took a very quick turn. I thought it could have been played out in many scenarios but the author chose a good one. Overall, I really enjoyed This story and look forward to many more by this author.

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Happily Ever After Isn't Easy is told from Gabe Reynolds' POV. Gabe is a man in his forties, who is starting life all over. Gabe is a mental health therapist, which honestly took me by surprise when I was found out. He's very down, sad, gloomy, and made me think of Eeyore when first introduced to him. Gabe was afraid to come out of the closet as a teenager and when he got to college latched on to the first woman to show any interest in him. They married and lived a life more as roommates than a couple. After twenty years of marriage, his wife ended up pregnant by another man and Gabe found himself finally able to admit that he was gay and started living his life. Only his life isn't turning out to be all love and happily ever after, plus he's still taking care of his mentally ill ex-wife. He's finally decided he's never going to find love, and he might as well just do his job, help his ex-wife and love her kids since he'll never have his own family. Until the day one of his high school clients is in his office because of issues with a substitute gym teacher, and Gabe goes to confront him.

Brandt Sawyer is a military man through every part of his being. He has no interest in softening his stance for anyone and has the mindset that the students, and Gabe, should "man-up" and toughen up. But, as unbending as Brandt appears to be, he does have the best interest of the kids he teaches and is willing to listen to others. Because we didn't get Brandt's POV, it's hard to really know his character like you do Gabe's. But, Brandt is the complete opposite of Gabe and able to help him move on from his gloom and doom mindset. Brandt is understanding with Gabe's relationship with his ex-wife and is willing to hang out and play with the kids. Brandt and Gabe do have the desire of having a family in common. Both men are looking to settle down and once they open up to each other about that, it helps move toward a common goal.

I struggled to like Gabe's character. Sure, he was a good guy but it really came across as martyrdom instead of just being a nice guy that lets people walk all over him. He was at his ex-wife's beck and call. He took care of the children she had from cheating on him. He reminded her to take her medicine. He talked to her therapist. He talked to her current husband when things got bad. I didn't understand why he continued to guilt himself over their failed marriage. I didn't feel like he was emotionally in a place to be in a relationship until he got himself and his life together. Heck, at many times I thought he should consider seeking a therapist himself to help him through his emotions. That is not what happened, but after a tragedy, he and Brandt did find their HEA. I did like that this story was about two adult males, not kids in their 20's.

Rating: 3.5 stars

¸.•*¨)☆♡¸.•*´¨)☆♡¸.•*´¨)☆♡
♡☆(¸.•´ Cinderfella found his Prince Charming.

I don't know why I chose this story, as the title threw me for a loop, the plot directed me to a WTF moment and I almost DNF.

However, being the person I am I persevered and trudged on and gained a better understanding of Gabe's plight and his wholeheartedness and unwillingness to do wrong by the ex wife who cheated on him, had kids on him with another man, and whose mental illness made him so guilty.

And then there was Brandt. Ex military, sexy, tear worthy and totally into Gabe. "Try instant attraction. And that threw me. I went right into hardass mode to stop myself from making a fool out of myself." Brandt was boyfriend material, and though he was hard-arsed at first, he made up for it with his gentle quality and his total attraction to Gabe.

Happily ever after might not be easy, and there were no guarantees, but Gabe would take what he had over that any day.

This story explored loving and caring for someone with mental health issues and learning to pull away no matter how hard. It showed that no matter the issues, love truly did conquer all. Do I regret almost DNFing this book? Yes, because in the end, it was the quality and not the quantity that mattered. Gabe found the love he seeked; Brandt learned to let go and accept that being whole was sometimes not possible without someone guiding the way and through pain and suffering, we each had to learn to let go and allow others to find their way. No matter the end result.

Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club