toshi21's review
4.0
I enjoyed the book. I thought that Aaron and Tyler's friends to lovers was absolutely sweet.
Tyler is the best person for Aaron.
A few niggles was how fast Aaron and his brother became friends but other than that, the main story was sweet. Tyler was steadfast in his affection and despite his exuberant ways, he is very good for the calm and mostly collected Aaron.
Tyler is the best person for Aaron.
A few niggles was how fast Aaron and his brother became friends but other than that, the main story was sweet. Tyler was steadfast in his affection and despite his exuberant ways, he is very good for the calm and mostly collected Aaron.
xanthe87's review
4.0
This book was lovely to read, you kind of know the overall feel you'll get with a Dreamspun book.
Aaron and and Tyler have been friends for years, ever since Aaron showed up as a teenage foster kid. Now close to burn out at work he's been given time off of work and the two men are going on a trip.
Aaron has done well for himself since being fostered by Tyler's family but it's clear he still has a few unresolved feelings about things, especially that his brother got adopted and not him. The trip the men head off on gives him the chance to deal with things in his head and heart.
Aaron is such a lovely guy! The work he does in Child Protective Services is fantastic but having been in the system means he knows what's at stake. Unfortunately he also feels each case personally causing him to come close to losing himself to the job. Tyler is there for him through everything showing his feelings and sincerity and is always trying to help him relax and take time away from work. Both men are extremely comfortable in their friendship and now and then there is the hint of more but with so much at stake, Aaron is scared to lose his best friend and the family it's given him. The things he went through as a kid are heartbreaking and it's difficult reading how he acted and reacted once in the foster system. His brother settled easily being so much younger but Aaron remembers it all so it's not so easy for him to let go.
The friendship between Aaron and Tyler is huge in this story. Aaron's main support system as well as his friend, brother and confidant. Reading the two together brings a smile when it's easy to tell how much they mean to each other. Cari has conveyed that really well to the readers. She draws you right along with Aaron as he makes the journey back to his hometown and the past he has tried not to revisit for a few years.
We have a few secondary characters arrive through the book as we make our way to Kansas. New friendly faces as well as someone out to cause grief gives the two men cause to come together even more. There are some lighthearted moments for the men along with some tougher moments for Aaron when it comes to his past.
Any fan of Dreamspun Desire books will enjoy this outing and I'd recommend to contemporary romance readers also.
I received an ARC from the publisher and am happily giving a review.
Aaron and and Tyler have been friends for years, ever since Aaron showed up as a teenage foster kid. Now close to burn out at work he's been given time off of work and the two men are going on a trip.
Aaron has done well for himself since being fostered by Tyler's family but it's clear he still has a few unresolved feelings about things, especially that his brother got adopted and not him. The trip the men head off on gives him the chance to deal with things in his head and heart.
Aaron is such a lovely guy! The work he does in Child Protective Services is fantastic but having been in the system means he knows what's at stake. Unfortunately he also feels each case personally causing him to come close to losing himself to the job. Tyler is there for him through everything showing his feelings and sincerity and is always trying to help him relax and take time away from work. Both men are extremely comfortable in their friendship and now and then there is the hint of more but with so much at stake, Aaron is scared to lose his best friend and the family it's given him. The things he went through as a kid are heartbreaking and it's difficult reading how he acted and reacted once in the foster system. His brother settled easily being so much younger but Aaron remembers it all so it's not so easy for him to let go.
The friendship between Aaron and Tyler is huge in this story. Aaron's main support system as well as his friend, brother and confidant. Reading the two together brings a smile when it's easy to tell how much they mean to each other. Cari has conveyed that really well to the readers. She draws you right along with Aaron as he makes the journey back to his hometown and the past he has tried not to revisit for a few years.
We have a few secondary characters arrive through the book as we make our way to Kansas. New friendly faces as well as someone out to cause grief gives the two men cause to come together even more. There are some lighthearted moments for the men along with some tougher moments for Aaron when it comes to his past.
Any fan of Dreamspun Desire books will enjoy this outing and I'd recommend to contemporary romance readers also.
I received an ARC from the publisher and am happily giving a review.
kumabear's review
3.0
3 stars
Handle with Care is a stand-alone book by Cari Z. Aaron McCoy is a social worker who is forced on vacation by his boss. He and his best friend Tyler, decide to road trip to his younger brother's wedding. What starts out as friendship tentatively ends up as more. Can Aaron handle it?
Aaron is a very good character. His mother was a drug addict and when he was young his younger brother and himself were placed in foster care. While his brother was quickly adopted, Aaron himself drifted through homes until he is placed with his current best friend's family and he stays there until he ages out of the system. Tyler lives with Aaron and works from home. While Aaron is a workaholic, Tyler is much more laid back and doesn't have much of a filter.
I really liked the subject manner. I have never read a book with a similar storyline which in itself is pretty unique. Aaron who was in the system for most of his life decides to pay it forward and become a social worker to help children like he was. While his younger brother was adopted fast and he was rejected by the same family he hardened up and was shuffled around until he, of course, ended up with Tyler's family. He had little contact with his brother throughout his life and meeting him after all this time was very awkward but you would imagine a situation like that would be. Add in their birth mother showing up, a homophobic friend and a strip club and this book was rather entertaining.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Handle with Care is a stand-alone book by Cari Z. Aaron McCoy is a social worker who is forced on vacation by his boss. He and his best friend Tyler, decide to road trip to his younger brother's wedding. What starts out as friendship tentatively ends up as more. Can Aaron handle it?
Aaron is a very good character. His mother was a drug addict and when he was young his younger brother and himself were placed in foster care. While his brother was quickly adopted, Aaron himself drifted through homes until he is placed with his current best friend's family and he stays there until he ages out of the system. Tyler lives with Aaron and works from home. While Aaron is a workaholic, Tyler is much more laid back and doesn't have much of a filter.
I really liked the subject manner. I have never read a book with a similar storyline which in itself is pretty unique. Aaron who was in the system for most of his life decides to pay it forward and become a social worker to help children like he was. While his younger brother was adopted fast and he was rejected by the same family he hardened up and was shuffled around until he, of course, ended up with Tyler's family. He had little contact with his brother throughout his life and meeting him after all this time was very awkward but you would imagine a situation like that would be. Add in their birth mother showing up, a homophobic friend and a strip club and this book was rather entertaining.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
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