The Half of Us
By Cardeno C.
Published: October 10th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
Short-tempered, arrogant heart surgeon Jason Garcia grew up wanting a close-knit family, but believes he ruined those dreams when he broke up his marriage. The benefit of divorce is having as much random sex as he wants, and it’s a benefit Jason is exploiting when he meets a sweet, shy man at a bar and convinces him to go home for a no-strings-attached night of fun.
Abe turned around and leaned against the peninsula. “We’ll
eat dinner and then we can get in the bath and talk.”
“Talk?”
Abe threw back his head and laughed.
“What?”
“We suck at this,” he said. “Both of us.”
Jason arched his eyebrows and curled one side of his lips
up. “Oh, we both suck plenty.”
“Cut it out.” Abe chuckled and lightly smacked Jason’s
shoulder.
“Sorry.” Jason cleared his throat and tried to look serious.
“What do we suck at?”
“Talking.”
He reared back. “We talk.”
“We do,” Abe agreed. “But not about everything we should.”
“Fine.” Jason sighed dramatically. “If you feed me and get
naked and wet with me, I’m willing to suffer through a conversation.”
“You really are a giver,” Abe said sarcastically.
Jason arched his eyebrows, brought his fist to his mouth,
and coughed.
Abe shook his head. “Is there anything you can’t turn into a
sexual innuendo?”
“Is there anything you can say that isn’t a sexual
innuendo?”
“Apparently not,” Abe conceded. He ran one finger down
Jason’s chest, over his stomach, and across his groin. “My subconscious must
see you and think sex, so everything gets tainted.”
“Aww, baby, you say the sweetest things,” Jason said as he
stepped closer.
Abe rolled his eyes.
“You do,” Jason insisted, his voice full of humor.
Abe shook his head and snorted.
Jason was amazed at how much better he felt. Less than an
hour earlier, he had wanted to put his hand through a wall; now he was calm and
happy. He snaked his arm around Abe’s waist and brought their chests together,
trapping Abe against the counter. “You do,” he whispered into Abe’s ear.
Trembling, Abe turned his face into Jason’s neck and said,
“You really do it for me.”
“I know,” Jason said. Abe was too earnest to play games and
too inexperienced to effectively hide his emotions. His eagerness to be with
Jason was evident in his every expression and action, which Jason cherished
because the feeling was mutual even if he wasn’t always great at showing it.
“Like I said.” He cupped Abe’s chin, tilted his head up, and then dipped down
and brushed their lips together. “The sweetest things.”
5 out of 5 stars
The Half of Us is a part of the Family Series, but like the others can be read alone. I recommend that you read them in order though because characters from the previous books do make appearances in each of the books.
Let me tell you...this is the hottest, sexiest book from Cardeno C. yet! So be prepared, you have been warned!
Jason, does not believe in gay relationships, nor does he think he'll ever be in any sort of a relationship again. He thinks he screwed up those chances after divorcing his wife. So he's settled for quick, easy, no-strings attached one night stands. He never sleeps with the same person twice, never even bothers to really talk to them after they've slept together once even. In short order, Jason's kind of an asshole to start, but he's still attention grabbing. Considering his profession, cardiothoracic surgeon, I kind of expected the attitude.
Then one night, Jason hears this laugh and sees Abe. He's so captivated by this younger man's laugh and zest for life that he asks him to spend the night with him. They part ways and Jason goes on with his life, until he runs into Abe again. He isn't sure what he's feeling for Abe, but he knows he'd like to be with him again.
Abe, is adorable and so full of life, which is the complete opposite of Jason. He doesn't normally do one night stands, in fact he's looking for his forever kind of guy. After the second encounter with Jason, Abe is even more intrigued with him. And have I said that the sex scenes between these two are scorchingly HOT? I mean dirty talking, sheet burning, screaming orgasms for both men HOT!
This was one of the best opposites attracts book that I've read in a long time. It was able to capture everything just right between Jason and Abe. Between the sweet, loving, nurturer that is Abe, and the dirty talking, slightly detached, but willing to concede Jason, it really just clicked into one of the best m/m romances that I've read this year. Watching Jason overcome his conviction that being gay and having a long term relationship are mutually exclusive is at moments funny, adorably sweet, and heartrendingly sad. Abe is with him through the entire journey though, and works with him through his issues and to the point where Jason knows what he wants.
The relationship that develops with Jason and Abe with Jason's children is an added layer to the story. This layer is handled very well by the author in that it showed how children after a divorce can and do feel. It also shows what can happen when there isn't open communication with those children, also.
As far as Cardeno C.'s books, for me this one ties with Caleb and Andrew's story in The One Who Saves Me, part of the Home series. I've always love the dynamic between Caleb and Andrew, but Jason and Abe really challenged that favorite spot in this story. I was so sucked into The Half of Us that when I finished it, I wanted to turn around and re-read it. It was just that good of a story for me. The characters were spot on, the story painted a fantastic portrait of a developing relationship, and kept you hooked into it until the very last word.
If you're a Cardeno C. fan you know you're going to pick this book up. However if you haven't discovered CC yet, this is definitely one you need to grab and give it a try.
Dreamspinner / Amazon / ARe / Paperback
Fun Facts About The Half of Us
1. It
will make you want to try putting Milk Duds in your popcorn.
2. The
word “balls” is used forty times.
3. After
reading The Half Of Us you may
suddenly notice if people move their arms as they walk.
4. Small
talk before a one-night stand gets Abe right where he wants to be.
5. Jason
and Abe find ways to spice up Netflix Recommends.
6. Donuts
are the way to reach uncommunicative teenage boys.
7.
Sometimes hugging and kissing are just as intimate as
sex.
Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno’s stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.
Cardeno’s Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, “You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day.”
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