nicola949's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a nice way to spend an afternoon! I loved both the main characters. The plot kept moving, drama interspersed with the romance of Lex and Tallis.
Lex was attracted to Tallis in high school (Tallis must have been extraordinarily good looking for Lex to be attracted despite how Tallis treated him!) but Tally was a terrible bully. Things go badly for Tally and after losing his job and home, he returns to town. Lex is such a wonderful and forgiving man that he offers Tally a job, despite the reaction of his friends, family and rest of town.
Very quickly Lex recognises that Tally has changed but not everyone thinks so because Tally has also been tarnished by his father's actions. Lex looks beyond their past and sees the man that Tally is now."He couldn't believe Lex was publicly going to bat for him. Why? He understood that Lex had to stand by his business decisions, but it felt so personal. Like a victory."
Both men quickly realise that they love each other but in true romance fashion, don't want to admit their feelings. "Just tell him how you feel." She grinned. "Why do men have to make things so difficult?" Just tell him. Sure. Easy as pie.
The story reflects on the past, how the characters behaved in high school, including Brock who used to be Tally's good friend. Brock is an influential man in the town, although he is a drunk, a womanizer and still gives Lex a hard time about his sexuality. Tally plays along with him, delaying coming and out and in the meantime, not standing by Lex. This was the main part of the story that I couldn't understand. For a man in love, Tally behaved pretty appallingly! Interesting, when you read the second book, it makes more sense. The timeline of the second book [b:Letting Go|15833729|Letting Go (Rock Bay, #2)|M.J. O'Shea|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345238488s/15833729.jpg|21570222] overlaps with this first book of the series, and provides more insight into Tally's actions as Drew explains what he asked Tally to do for him.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, loved the characters and it ticked the boxes for a happy ever after ending! 3.5 stars
Lex was attracted to Tallis in high school (Tallis must have been extraordinarily good looking for Lex to be attracted despite how Tallis treated him!) but Tally was a terrible bully. Things go badly for Tally and after losing his job and home, he returns to town. Lex is such a wonderful and forgiving man that he offers Tally a job, despite the reaction of his friends, family and rest of town.
Very quickly Lex recognises that Tally has changed but not everyone thinks so because Tally has also been tarnished by his father's actions. Lex looks beyond their past and sees the man that Tally is now."He couldn't believe Lex was publicly going to bat for him. Why? He understood that Lex had to stand by his business decisions, but it felt so personal. Like a victory."
Both men quickly realise that they love each other but in true romance fashion, don't want to admit their feelings. "Just tell him how you feel." She grinned. "Why do men have to make things so difficult?" Just tell him. Sure. Easy as pie.
The story reflects on the past, how the characters behaved in high school, including Brock who used to be Tally's good friend. Brock is an influential man in the town, although he is a drunk, a womanizer and still gives Lex a hard time about his sexuality. Tally plays along with him, delaying coming and out and in the meantime, not standing by Lex. This was the main part of the story that I couldn't understand. For a man in love, Tally behaved pretty appallingly! Interesting, when you read the second book, it makes more sense. The timeline of the second book [b:Letting Go|15833729|Letting Go (Rock Bay, #2)|M.J. O'Shea|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345238488s/15833729.jpg|21570222] overlaps with this first book of the series, and provides more insight into Tally's actions as Drew explains what he asked Tally to do for him.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, loved the characters and it ticked the boxes for a happy ever after ending! 3.5 stars
lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
2.0
This book started really good, but something was lost along the way.
First of all, no matter how changed Tally was, I think Lex shouldn't have forgiven him that easily and, even if he had forgiven him, I don't think he should have let him in that quickly.
After all, Tally made his life a living hell and there are things from which you can't get back from.
Also, somewhere in there Lex and Tally started sounding like women to me. I can't quite explain it, but all I know is that men don't act like that and they definitely don't say stuff like that.
I'm disappointed.
bibliophile24's review against another edition
5.0
I am a new MJ O'Shea fan, and I can't wait for more!
karlijnmerle's review against another edition
3.0
A nice read. Not beautiful, but also not bad.
The last few chapters felt kind of rushed and didn't do right to the story.
The development was very nice and if the end was a tiny bit better arranged, it would be 4 stars.
Tally and Lex were nice together and I really want to drink coffee in Lex' shop. Tally's special please :)
The last few chapters felt kind of rushed and didn't do right to the story.
The development was very nice and if the end was a tiny bit better arranged, it would be 4 stars.
Tally and Lex were nice together and I really want to drink coffee in Lex' shop. Tally's special please :)
ezichinny's review against another edition
3.0
this book touch a nerve because I have no tolerance for bullying.
Tallis Carrington was King of Rock Bay, son of the Mayor, son of the elite and star athlete, where James Alexis Barry was a purging freshman whom Tallis called ""butter". Tallis and his jock homies terrorized the "nerdy kids", dunking them in toilets, tying them up on poles and other such demeaning treatments through high school.
I liked a Tally, but I couldn't get over Tallis. I just couldn't get over his chip on his shoulder when he was the one life crapped on. Tallis didn't take time to truly appreciate for 3 years, his treatment of others altered the course and memories of their high school years.
After a scandal forced the Carringtons to move from town, Tallis moved to Seattle. Years later, hard economic times forced Talis to move back to Rock Bay and his grandma's house. None of the people in town wanted anything to do with Tally except Lex, who gave Tally a job, and a change to show the town that a Tally is a changed man.
Alexis/Lex is a wonderful compassionate forgiving human being. Amazing. His family too. I'm humbled by their capacity to love, tolerate and accept. No wonder Lex was able to make it through and still be a decent business owner.
elvenavari's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the characters in this one. They were...real, goofy and made mistakes. The plot wasn't too bad. It got a little soap opera-ish toward the end but not overly so.
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
A good strong 3.5+* read for me.
I enjoyed the plot line, was perhaps expecting a bit more angst, but enjoyed it as is.
I think once Brock showed up I didn't get so much of the feelings Tally was experiencing. Earlier in the book I felt his frustration at being treated as the pariah and having to prove himself. But after the old gang showed up, it did get a bit muddy.
Lex didnt tug at me as much as Tally, perhaps because despite all he'd suffered at school, he had succeeded.
Fast paced and engaging writing kept the story moving along.
26.5.19 reread : as original review, was expecting more angst but enjoyed the fact that Lex could be the better man; didn’t fully get why Tally spent so much time with the old gang. Enjoyed again.
I enjoyed the plot line, was perhaps expecting a bit more angst, but enjoyed it as is.
I think once Brock showed up I didn't get so much of the feelings Tally was experiencing. Earlier in the book I felt his frustration at being treated as the pariah and having to prove himself. But after the old gang showed up, it did get a bit muddy.
Lex didnt tug at me as much as Tally, perhaps because despite all he'd suffered at school, he had succeeded.
Fast paced and engaging writing kept the story moving along.
26.5.19 reread : as original review, was expecting more angst but enjoyed the fact that Lex could be the better man; didn’t fully get why Tally spent so much time with the old gang. Enjoyed again.
tiggers_hate_acorns's review against another edition
4.0
Found it hard to believe that Tallis did not recognise Lex when Lex had been the object of his hidden lust. I enjoyed the story but it didn't set my world alight, really only 3.5 stars but GR doesn't allow halves. Not sure that I could have been as forgiving as Lex.
liza5326's review against another edition
4.0
This was a "just one more chapter" book for me. I couldn't put it down. I loved this story! Yet another example of putting off a book that been on my TBR FOREVER and kicking myself after because it was so good!
Tally was the BMOC in high school and pretty much the biggest ass. But he has come home, tail tucked between his legs, to stay with his grandmother. No one in town will hire him because of his family's less than savory history and the only person who does is the one he was worst to in school. Lex has a big heart, but Tally wrecked him in high school. To make it worse, he doesn't even remember who Lex is. I don't think I could be as forgiving as Lex, but I'm vindictive like that! The sexual tension, the romance, the laughs, all were great. The drama didn't really start until they were together. Then all hell broke lose... And I loved it!
Tally was the BMOC in high school and pretty much the biggest ass. But he has come home, tail tucked between his legs, to stay with his grandmother. No one in town will hire him because of his family's less than savory history and the only person who does is the one he was worst to in school. Lex has a big heart, but Tally wrecked him in high school. To make it worse, he doesn't even remember who Lex is. I don't think I could be as forgiving as Lex, but I'm vindictive like that! The sexual tension, the romance, the laughs, all were great. The drama didn't really start until they were together. Then all hell broke lose... And I loved it!
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
I’m having mixed feelings about the narration of Coming Home. Even though Tom Vilot has a very pleasant, sexy voice worth listening to, it was the overall reading of the story that I had problems with. My impression, at times, was that he didn’t enjoy what he was reading very much, and it showed in the characters’ voices and the emotions he was to have been portraying. At times, Tom sounded very bored (drone-like) while narrating Coming Home, and to be honest, he almost put me to sleep while driving. Very dangerous!
I’m not giving up on Tom and would gladly give him another try, but I have to say that while I enjoyed reading Coming Home, it’s still a 4.5 Star book for me, sadly, the audio version did not meet my expectations and will not be a repeat experience.
I’m having mixed feelings about the narration of Coming Home. Even though Tom Vilot has a very pleasant, sexy voice worth listening to, it was the overall reading of the story that I had problems with. My impression, at times, was that he didn’t enjoy what he was reading very much, and it showed in the characters’ voices and the emotions he was to have been portraying. At times, Tom sounded very bored (drone-like) while narrating Coming Home, and to be honest, he almost put me to sleep while driving. Very dangerous!
I’m not giving up on Tom and would gladly give him another try, but I have to say that while I enjoyed reading Coming Home, it’s still a 4.5 Star book for me, sadly, the audio version did not meet my expectations and will not be a repeat experience.