About the Book: Work, sleep, work, repeat. Nero’s lonely life suits him just fine until his best friend, Cass, asks him to take on a new apprentice—a beautiful young man who’s never set foot in a professional kitchen. Despite his irritation and his lifelong ability to shut the world out, Nero is mesmerised by the vibrant stray, especially when he learns what drove him to seek sanctuary on Nero’s battered old couch.
Lenny Mitchell is living under a cloud of fear. Pursued by a stalker, he has nowhere left to run until Nero offers him a port in a storm—a job at the hottest restaurant in Shepherd’s Bush. Kitchen life proves heady and addictive, and it’s not long before he finds himself falling hard and fast for the man who has taken him in.
Fast-forward a month and a neither man can imagine life without the other, but one thing stands in their way: a lifetime of horrors Nero can’t bring himself to share with Lenny. Or can he? For the first time ever, happiness is there for the taking, and Nero must learn to embrace it before fate steps in and rips it away.
Urban Soul 2
M/M Contemporary Romance
Riptide Publishing | March 27, 2017
It’s been such a long time since I read Misfits. It took me a moment to remember everything that happened and the characters, but once the story really got going it all came back to me. I remember how much I loved Jake in particular. I wasn’t in love with Misfits though. It was only 3 stars, and at the time I believed it was because it was a “couple” made up of three men. I’m all about open love and I don’t judge any kind of relationship, but when it comes to my tastes, I find I prefer love stories that are monogamous.
The main reason I decided to read Strays was because the followup brought us back to Nero, the grumpy chef that was Cass’s best friend and helps with the kitchens in the Urban Soul restaurant franchise. I remember Nero from Misfits, and I remember I was curious about him. That curiosity was why I decided to request this ARC.
It turns out that it wasn’t just the three way love story that I didn’t like. It seems to be the story itself that’s not for me. I can’t say I have major complaints. It was good. Interesting. The characters were both individuals and I enjoyed their chemistry. I think the reason why it’s a 3 star read is mostly because I didn’t feel anything while I was reading. The story wasn’t missing anything except that extra something I needed to care. I know it sounds horrible, like I hated the book. I didn’t hate it. I kept reading. I reached the end. I don’t think it’ll be one that sticks with me. I needed more.
I can’t say for sure I’ll continue with the series, if another is written. I think I have to chalk this one up to it just not being for me.
Thank you to Riptide Publishing for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Birdie Bookworm 
Sorry this one didn’t stick with you. You know I’ll be reading anyway! 🙂
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I hope you love it!
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The cover is so catching. I’ve seen it before but never knew what the story was about. It sounds like an interesting story but the author’s writing just didn’t speak to you.
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The cover is really gorgeous. That was another thing that pulled me into it.
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