Wood, Screws, & Nails

The May-December trope is one I enjoy very much, particularly if it's done well. In 'Wood, Screws, & Nails', book one in the new series 'Hard Hats', Piper Vaughn and Kade Boehme have written a wonderful, fun, sexy book, highlighting all the best features of this trope. It features Aaron as the late-thirties, hot, yummy contractor, and Malachi (Mal) as the twenty-one-year-old college student, and best friend of Aaron's son, Julian.
Aaron was a confused young man, at sixteen, when he and his best friend got pregnant and had Julian. Aaron went to trade school, worked in construction, and started his own contracting business, working hard to be where he's at now. He's been an every other weekend only dad for much of Julian's life, although, unlike for a lot of kids, Aaron and Julian's mom remain very close friends. So this opportunity to spend time with Julian for the summer, fixing up the family home, is Aaron's chance to reconnect with his son. Unfortunately, what Aaron begins to recognize after a few weeks, is that Julian doesn't seem to have inherited his parents’ work ethic, and is spending more time slacking off than working. This leaves Aaron with way too much time spent working with Mal.
The inevitable occurs, as Julian is gone more and more, and Aaron and Mal have time to explore the heat between them. Of course, there's plenty of worry about getting caught, and, as time goes on, what to do when summer is over since they're both feeling more than they anticipated. The ending was fairly predictable, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. This is a fun, sexy read, with some drama and angst. Overall, very enjoyable and easily recommended.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

This is a good story and book. Aaron and his son Julian have never been opened about Aaron's sexuality. Things get complicated when Julian and Malachi , his roommate , go to help Aaron over the summer vacation.
Malachi and Aaron start something and Julian attitude is not good at all.
But Aaron ultimately needs to decide what is more important to him and if he can have what he wants.
Recommended book.

4.5 stars so rounding up to 5
i was a little apprehensive about the story line - father hot for son's best friend - for a couple reasons. first being the age difference and the second is there is another kade book with a father/son's best friend romance (wide awake).
i'm not sure why i doubted these authors, i absolutely loved this story. i wish it was longer - i always wish kade's books were longer - i could read his writing all day. this is my first experience with piper and i'm anxious to read more!
how can you go wrong with a sexy, experienced construction worker dad that has a sweet, sensitive side and a young, virile BRAZILIAN cutie with soft curls and an equally hot body? throw in sneaking around so the son doesn't find out and you have a smoking hot read!
i loved all the characters in this book. they dynamic between aaron, julian, carrie and jeff is pretty great. considering aaron and carrie had to grow up quickly with the teenage pregnancy they are pretty well adjusted and work well together raising julian. malachi has always worked hard for what he has and is mature for his age. as such, guys his age don't have much appeal. he and aaron have great chemistry.
the angst was a bit predictable but that didn't make the story less enjoyable. even though i was skeptical i'd get my happy ending, i was pleasantly surprised with the end of the story. i'm also very excited to see book 2 is already out so i can continue on with this series!

FIVE Do-It-Yourself stars!
You know how, sometimes, you read a book and the second it ends you want to start over? That giggly bubble of happiness is bursting in your chest and you can't believe it all turned out...perfectly?
That's me right now.
I've read some other Piper Vaughn books, and loved the close relationships the men built against tough odds, but this one just GOT me.
Aaron is in 37, a hardworking contractor from Chicago's suburbs. He's gay, but not OUT to his family, and especially not to his college-aged son, Julian. Aaron was a teen, trying to figure out his sexuality by messing around with his friend Carrie when she got pregnant. His parents took her in, and they've had a good life--though Carrie married another man who has been a great stepfather to Julian.
Needing help rehabbing his parents' lake house in Lake Geneva, WI, Aaron asks Julian to spend the summer there--and earn a bit of cash. Julian agrees, and enlists his best friend and roommate, Malachi, for the task.
Malachi is an out gay 21 y/o man. He's Brazilian and a dedicated worker, aspiring to become a teacher. For years he's learned carpentry from his own father, so this summer job is perfect. Problem? Well, Malachi thinks Aaron's pretty perfect, too. See, Malachi's seriously into older men, and continually working around Aaron's big, toned body is just the spark to light Malachi's fire.
The two men recognize the value of their friendship, comradery and enjoy working together, but the sexual tension is fierce. It doesn't help that Julian's soon sulky and then shirking outright. Aaron's upset over the friction between himself and Julian, and finally succumbs to Malachi's desire to soothe him.
It's eReader-melting, quite honestly. Well, until Julian arrives at a most INOPPORTUNE moment. Ahem. Catching a full-on 'drilling' session between father and friend wasn't on his To-Do List. Ever.
There's lots of hurt feelings, embarrassment and apologies, but at the end, oh the end!, it's an HEA to make the most curmudgeonly smile. For real! *swoon*
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (Goodreads DBML)

Aaron and Malachi have HOT chemistry! These guys burned up my Kindle! It's not really insta-love, but they connected immediately, which was great. Aaron's son, Julian, was a whiny child, but amazingly when it counted, he stood up and acted like a man.
This was a very fast, enjoyable read, but I was disappointed when I got to the end. I wasn't ready to let these guys go. I don't think I got nearly enough of them!