A Guy Walks Into My Bar

6 stars
I have been…harassing… or strongly encouraging Lauren Blakely to write a male/male romance for years. I knew she could do it, but even I am shocked at how much I just absolutely loved it! It is more than I expected.

The main reason is these men. They are both unique and charismatic on their own, but together they are just magic! The verbal foreplay, sexual tension, and chemistry just flow between them. And it sizzles and sparks until it has no choice but to just combust. And oh my, when there is smoke there is fire and in this one is a 4 alarm fire!

Dean is a British bar owner. Hes focused, analytical, and sarcastic. He doesnt want distractions or relationships. In fact he and his friend/business partner have a running bet to avoid going home with customers. But then in walks Fitz. A big, burly, tatted, American hockey player with a winning personality. And before they know it they’re in the middle of heavy flirting that Dean is determined to resist. But Fitz might just be his match. He is determined, likes to get what he wants, and hes not afraid to play dirty to get it.

This book is so freaking hot! These guys are everything! I loved their banter and fun dynamics. They play off each other so well with their wit and intelligence. And despite their differences, they fit together really well. Their bedroom scenes are so intense and passionate, but also help forge trust and intimacy in a natural way. I like the balance of power between them and that they are not afraid to sometimes be vulnerable and let the other lead. And there are also unexpected, messy, and complicated feelings too.

But their issues arent just going to go away because they found someone they actually like. Not only do they have personal issues affecting how they look on relationships, but there are some built-in complications that are not easy fixes.

Bolstered by a set time limit and assurances of their own willpower, they are two men determined not to fall but start to get caught up in their own web of lies of self-protection anyway. And what happens when it is time to say goodbye?

Its a starcrossed lovers M/M story of a Brit and an American in a relationship they never expected or wanted. I loved the side characters of Fitz’s sister, Emma, and his teammate, Ransom, and Dean’s best friend, Maeve, and his sweet dad. I enjoyed exploring a bit of London and New York. And I just freakin’ loved these guys so much! I cannot possibly pick a favorite between them since they are both so charming and lovable in their own way. I adored everything about them and how their story played out! This is definitely my new fave Lauren Blakely couple and book!

Whats better than an Lauren Blakely Book, A M/M book written by Lauren.
From the very first page you knew that you would fall hard and fast for not only Fitz but for Dean too.
The chemistry right from the get go was hot & steamy and throughout their story it only gets better.
Fitz is an NHL Player with enough swagger and cockiness that you cant help watch him fall hard and fast for the owner & bartender of The Magpie Dean.
Dean is a man who isnt one to shy away but knowing this man is only here for a short time as him jumping in with both feet but what he doesnt expect is how fast he falls for this man.
Watching them come together is just fantastic, they are loving and caring of the other and they will put
It all out there to find a way to be together no matter what it takes and watching that all unfold has you falling for these two incredible men right along side them.

I really do not think the author is comfortable with writing MM, and this book turned out lukewarm at best.
I liked Fitzs character and I could not wait for his book. As a matter of fact, I preordered my copy and that is something I have done only once before. It is not often that I am disappointed by a Lauren Blakely book, but this one was a big letdown. I didnt feel anything for either character and the story just droned on and on. Seriously…I am 300 pages in and they are still in London and I cant make myself care whether they make it work long distance or not. (I truthfully could not even tell you in detail what happened in the previous 2/3 of the book, except that two guys walked around London, ate a few meals together, and had some drinks.)
Poor Fitz deserved a better story. I cant even make myself finish this one.

Lauren Blakely: Please clone yourself!
Dirty and erudite at the same time.”

I cant think of a better way to describe the Queen of Everything, Lauren Blakely, and her brick house of a romance. Dean and Fitz are exciting, hilarious and deeply addicting. A staid Brit behind the bar, a hot cheeky tatted hockey star… both with hearts on lockdown, what would happen when they realized they were meant to be? A joyous and raw romp through the hearts and minds of two men who refuse to fall but fall so hard, I couldnt turn the pages fast enough.

Blakely pulled off a hat trick, Dirty, Erudite and Sexy as hell. With every moment these men spend together, the pages sizzle.

This may be her first MM romance, but this is flawless romance that builds and quakes with crushing charm, stout carnal delights and real men aching for a permanence to the passion between them.

You need to read it to get all these vibes, but when Fitz says I dont care, I dont care, I dont care, MY head spun and I was only reading. I felt the love between these men, and I was sooo enchanted. I found myself in quick turns aching with heartbreak over the distance between them and gleefully grinning at the truly delicious and dirty dialogues. I could read these men and their out of this world chemistry for days and days. And the best part, was the writing the characters. I WANTED them together. I wanted them to fall and and love each other so hard. Its a delightful story. And filthy fun!

Blakely is already a brilliant romcom writer, and you know shes going to conquer MM. With a ticking clock premise and all the unspoken yet epic feels bouncing between these lovers just “looking for a hookup,” I couldnt get over how much I simply enjoyed reading this perfect romance. Destined to top everyone’s Best Of lists in 2020.

What did I love about Dean and Fitz? Without divulging too much plot, I loved:
Sex on a stick
Sacrilege
Svengalid
Shut the front door
Morning, sunshine
I dont care I dont care I dont care. UNF!!!! I loved it.
Penguins
Smokeshow
Irish Threesome
Portobello sandwich

I dont want to give away plot, so let me tell you how I felt. There is so much passion and love in the hot hot steamy scenes between these guys, but its so much more than that. I floved these men cover to cover and in between the sheets. A classic romantic comedy with the modern beats that makes you wish Lauren Blakely would clone herself so she could write a book a day. It’s that damn good.

Do you always get your way?
I got you, didnt I?

Gah I wish I could give this 4 stars I really do. It worked for me in some places and others it just didn’t.

In the beginning I was absolutely loving it. The back and forth between the two was so much fun and flirty and I couldn’t stop smiling!

My biggest downfall with this book was that it was just too long. Plus there’s lots of steam, I know, I know. I did keep in mind that Fitz was only in town for a week and the premise of the story is that these two are hooking up and live in different countries and it has that looming deadline. so it did fit with them.
Some other niggles for me was that the sarcasm between the two sometimes bordered on cheesy and other times it was cutting where it was like ok? Are we still joking or is someone angry? Lol. I think that comes down to writing style and I don’t always mesh with this style of writing. Plus mannerisms and stuff like that was pretty repetitive where I noticed it. I would have loved to see Fitz and Dean truly hang out with Dean’s friends during the week Fitz was in London, if that stuff was fleshed out a bit more. Because once they are in, they’re all in and it moves pretty fast but I’m not too bad at that. If other things would have been fleshed out unwound have been able to enjoy the extended epilogues.

I enjoyed the book though. I really did love that back and forth, the fun and flirty between the two. And the “this is just a fling. I don’t do relationships thank you very much” suuuuure. It’s always fun to watch idiots fall in love while adamant they absolutely will not. I appreciate the author not relying on homophobia to drive the story. There’s a note in the beginning which she says how it was a decision she made not to have homophobia in Dean and Fitz story. I really liked Maeve and Dean’s friendship and would have loved to see more than that. The guys going right seeing together and enjoying each other’s company was cute.

This was two guys definitely having a fling and not at all catching feelings and oh shit, they’re in love. Now they gotta work this pesky long distance thing out. If that’s your thing definitely give it a go!

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