Giving Chase

Havenwood, Book 1

By: Riley Hart

Narrated by: Kale Williams

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

Kellan:

I wasn't supposed to fall for my older brother's best friend. Unfortunately, that ship sailed when I was a teenager, even though Chase Hawthorne always treated me like nothing more than a younger sibling. Things were worse after my parents died. Chase was sweet and supportive, which only strengthened my feelings for him. But then he'd act like I couldn't take care of myself, and that part didn't go over well with me.

Yeah, I had a habit of screwing up. I'd always been the weird boy in our small town, but just like my big brother, he took overprotective to a new level. Until one night when I was 18 and Chase and I hooked up. It was a ding to the ego that he left town right afterward. Ridiculously, I'm still not over him.

Chase:

I betrayed my best friend, Griffin, the night I messed around with Kellan. So I ran - first to the marines, then into law enforcement. Ten years later, I'm back home, this time as a patrol officer rather than a troublemaker's son. Oh, and unable to keep my hands off Kellan Caine. There's always been something about him...the way he stands strong in who he is, even when he's standing alone. I'm trapped between someone I want more than anything and Griff, the guy who's like family to me. Yet the more time I spend with Kellan, the harder it becomes to deny there's something real between us.

With my dad stirring up trouble, and me going behind my best friend's back, everything's a mess. The more tangled the web gets, the more I realize I need Kellan. And that there might be something in the Hawthorne family history that'll make me lose both Kellan and Griffin for good.

©2020 Riley Hart (P)2020 Riley Hart

Would NOT recommend

The term of endearment "Baby Boy" is just flat out creepy and disturbing. Characters that feed stereotypes, pushing a social narrative, and severely underdeveloped story line. I can't believe this is the same author of the Crossroads series. Big, strong former Marine now turned cop falls in love with promiscuous waif. And of course they adopt a shelter dog (don't we hate it when people treat animals that way) that has NOTHING to do with the story but does get one reference in the epilogue. Kellan comes across as so feminine at times it seems the book was initially a male/female romance. I don't have a problem with a feminine character, but there were just so many mixed messages about Kellan I couldn't find the patience to care. Highly Disappointing. Would NOT recommend.

Female author

I hate that female authors writing gay romance, LITERALLY write it the exact same as straight romance and just change the names and sex scenes, literally it’s getting to the point where I’m gonna start refusing to read anything gay romance wise that’s not written by an actual male....i guess the target audience is women though they don’t write mm romance for gay guys they write them FOR straight women.....not that anyone ever reads these but we can tell ......every time you write this kinda junk, WE CAN TELL, that ur not trying in the least THANK GOD audible allows us to return books that blow.

A new series to love

I have an affinity for Riley Hart books. I know what I’m going to get, and I’m never disappointed. There’s something comforting with that. I was in a bit of hangover when Whiskey Creek ended, but I was revived when she began a new series – Havenwood.

I also have an affinity for the brother’s best friend trope. Griff is Chase’s best friend. Has been a solid presence in his life. Brought him home one day and showed him what a real family was. Treated him more like another brother than just a friend. Griff’s family embraced the wounded Chase, each demonstrating their love. In the midst of those developing relationships, Griff’s younger brother Kellen hit puberty and discovered not only that he was gay but that he had a massive crush on his older brother’s best friend. He held that secret close to his chest until the night when he was eighteen when he acted on that attraction. The next week Chase joined the Marines, leaving Havenwood seemingly forever.

Fast forward ten years and the Kaine brothers are doing well, thriving in their small town. They still miss their parents who were taken away in a violent mugging, but they’ve settled into a routine. Griff runs a bar while Kellen teaches art. The brothers still live in their childhood home and neither has had a serious relationship. They’re okay with that, though, because they have each other.

Then Chase comes back to town and everything changes. He and Griff take back up as best friends, and as much as he tries to resist Kell, he takes back up with him as well. But they have to be on the DL because there’s no way Griff is going to accept the relationship. Chase is back as a patrol officer and it’s not long before he’s back to dealing with his father. Only this time he’s an adult in a position of authority.

Kellen is certainly all grown up. He has friends and a good business. He’s managed to mature despite Griff’s constant coddling. Now, faced with Chase, he finds himself getting everything he’s ever wanted. But malevolent forces are still present, and soon the men face discovery. The question becomes will they be able to sustain their relationship in the light of day?

I have to admit I fell in love with Kellen, Chase, and even Griff. Loyal and loving, each man believes in family. And in standing up for those they love. Although I knew Kell and Chase were going to get together, there were still some dark moments to get there. But it was a Riley Hart romance, so I got everything I wanted.

Kale Williams is one of my favorite narrators. His Kellen had a bit of a Southern accent, easily distinguishing him from the other men. The delivery was solid and the performance was well done. I hope he’ll be narrating the next book. It’s already out and I’m hoping will be coming to audio soon.

Kellan and Chase

I loved this book so much. Riley really outdid herself with this one. This was my third time listening to Kale and I have to say he did an amazing job with it. The sexy times were hot as well and I so love this trope so of course I was going to listen to it. I can't wait to get into the rest of the series.

Not one of Riley Heart’s best

The characters lacked depth, some of their reactions seemed out of character for the particular character in question. I will continue to read Riley’s books as up until this one, they had been enjoyable.

A Great Start for the Havenwood Series!

I thought this was a really good book well thought out plot, great character development with likeable and believable characters and the typical small town. The title couldn't possibly be more appropriate with Kellan, Griff's younger brother being the one giving chase to Griff's best friend, Chase! It seems like hopeless situation for poor Chase with Chase being afraid of loosing his best friend Griffin if he gets involved with Griff's younger brother, Chase runs for cover joining the Marines after an incident of going a little too far with Kellan! Needless to say Kellan is crushed and he and his friends pretty unforgiving when Chase returns years later, but the author does a great job of bringing them back together, you'll have to listen to the audio or read the book to see how and to find out what happened to Griff and Kellan's parents!

Couple of comments on two negative things I saw is some reviews:

One review I saw saw said they didn't like Chase's calling Kellan's Baby Boy but it seemed pretty natural to me as he was the baby of the Caine's family, and only Chase and Kellan's referred to himself as that in personal and private conversations, to me that was less freaky than butter cup or sweetie pie, besides I'm sure many people referred to their pets at one-time or another as baby boy or baby girl. I Think the Author's choice of baby boy worked great, nice change from the old sugary, syrupy sweet euphorisms you normally see.

Another reviewer had commented that they thought that Kellan was too feminine .... Hello, what? There are different types and ranges of gay, ever heard the word rainbow? I think both the Author and Narrator did an excellent job with Kellan's character and verbal context for the story.

It's direction meant well.

I think the story was there, but that the characters were a bit off . Like chase I believed, I got his story , his background. Kellum left me thinking is this what she thinks of gay men. I mean its ok to be fabulous but this felt forced . I mean it was a good start though . I plan on reading the other two . Kellums character was just written wrong . I think i only made it to chapter 8.

Great read.

I loved everything about this book. The connection between the two guys was awesome. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.

Good listen

I enjoyed the book and the narrator. I doubt it’ll go into my relisten folder, but I have no regrets about buying it. The story was cute and good enough to not be cookie cutter for the brother’s best friend troupe. I’d recommend this listen.

Loving Someone

The story was a journey for both Chase and Kellan ... and of course Griff as well... time was no barrier and love came naturally. The entire book represented overcoming the odds ... Chase being loved by a family other than his at an early age ... having a brother... a best friend... and the man who was and now is the love of his life. There were moments of sorrow, of confusion, of hurt, but in the end it was love. Love that transcended time from a place of uncertainty to a place where only dreams are made... a book worth reading and a story worth remembering. I won’t forget this story nor the journey ...