Stevie‘s review of American Fairytale (Dreamers, Book 2) by Adriana Herrera
Contemporary Gay Romance published by Carina Press 20 May 19
I adored the first book in this series about three friends from different immigrant backgrounds who grew up together in New York and are now finding their individual ways to career success and relationships that will last. This time, we return to New York City to catch up with the second of the trio, Camilo Santiago Briggs, a Cuban-American social worker with a Jamaican father and a determination to fight for those who’ve had fewer chances in life than he has. When Milo and his best friend are gifted tickets to a swanky charity event, he doesn’t expect to hook up with one of the top donors, and is even more surprised when the man in question shows up at his work as the major benefactor behind his new project.
Thomas Hughes is a light-skinned Dominican, who wants to renovate some of the city’s shelters for women escaping abusive relationships in memory of his aunt, who was killed by her partner. Having made his fortune from a business he and his university friends set up to facilitate money transfers for other migrants, he’s now enjoying a spell of semi-retirement in order to bring up his daughter. He split up from her other daddy around the time she was born and they now share custody in a mostly amicable fashion. Tom is pleased to have a chance to get to know Milo better, although they initially try to keep things on a purely business footing. Soon, though, they’re meeting each other’s families and spending a lot of time together outside work, even though Milo is wary of Tom’s generosity, seeing it as an attempt to buy his favours and to control him.
Tom just wants to do the best by everyone, and can’t understand that spending money he can easily manage without on expensive gifts for Milo and his mother might be seen as anything other than wanting to treat them. His previous relationship fell apart because he was too absorbed in his work, and he’s determined that won’t happen again. When Milo finally snaps over one expensive outing too many, Tom has to figure out a way to show that he cares: one that’s all about giving away something more precious than money.
I was very taken with Tom’s plan to win Milo back, although I’d have liked to have seen more of the adventures he had in the process of carrying it out. I felt that Milo was a little too suspicious of Tom’s earlier attempts to woo him, even as I sympathised with the formative experiences that had led to his attitude. It was good to see both their families being supportive and to catch glimpses of the other two pairs that are central to this series. This book wasn’t quite as enchanting as the previous one, but I’m certainly looking forward to the next.
Grade: B
Summary:
Fairy-tale endings don’t just happen; they have to be fought for.
New York City social worker Camilo Santiago Briggs grew up surrounded by survivors who taught him to never rely on anything you didn’t earn yourself. He’s always dreamed of his own happily-ever-after, but he lives in the real world. Men who seem too good to be true…usually are. And Milo never ever mixes business with pleasure…until the mysterious man he had an unforgettable hookup with turns out to be the wealthy donor behind his agency’s new, next-level funding.
Thomas Hughes built a billion-dollar business from nothing: he knows what he wants and isn’t shy about going after it. When the enthralling stranger who blew his mind at a black-tie gala reappears, Tom’s more than ready to be his Prince Charming. Showering Milo with the very best of everything is how Tom shows his affection.
Trouble is, Milo’s not interested in any of it. The only thing Milo wants is Tom.
Fairy-tale endings take work as well as love. For Milo, that means learning to let someone take care of him, for a change. And for Tom, it’s figuring out that real love is the one thing you can’t buy.
Read or hear an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
