About Life Changes Everything
Written by TC Blue
259 pages/ 67100 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-100-5
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Ben might be young and only recently out, but he knows what he
wants, and the hot blond on the dance floor definitely fits the bill. The
last thing he expects is to discover that he's not only met Aaron before,
but that he likes the guy as well. That's something he's never encountered
before.
Aaron's no player, but when the universe throws a tall, built slab of
gorgeous beefcake in his path, Aaron knows better than to question his luck.
Ben unexpectedly turns out to be smart, funny, and a really good fit, which
is definitely a bonus. Ben might be young, but he's mature enough to keep
Aaron interested, and happy.
They both have pasts and regrets, but everyone does. They're determined to
work through their issues, though, and just when they’ve started to move on
together, life happens, throwing complications in their path. Can their
fledgling relationship survive when everything changes?
Life Changes Everything features characters from the popular novel, Life or
Something Scary Like That.
Review
J. Rocci, author of Taction and Army Green, writes:
My first impression of Life Changes Everything? Incredibly hot! I hadn't
read the companion book to this one, and though you don't need to in
order to understand the story, I added it to my reading list after my
first read through.
Ben is still in college and rooming with his two best friends, whom he
also happens to be in love with, so he hits the bars for meaningless
hook-ups as a way of coping. Enter Dr. Aaron Thompson, three years out
from a bad break-up and looking to get back on the dating scene. The two
spend a passionate night together and tentatively start seeing each
other to find out if they're compatible in more than just the bedroom.
Lucky for us, they are! Add in well-meaning friends, jealousy, and
family drama on both sides, and Blue keeps this contemporary love story
forging ahead at a great pace.
One of the things I loved about Life Changes Everything is that, while
Aaron is 29 and established in life, and though Ben is mature for 21,
the age difference between them does show at times but it's not a huge
issue. It's been less than a year since Ben came out, and I like that
Blue addresses his struggle with how he perceives a stereotypical young
gay lifestyle versus his own instincts and desires. Aaron goes to the
bar to try something out of character -- a random hook-up -- but seems
to have an easier time accepting that one night stands just aren't for
him. Even when the two are intending to have a one-time hook-up, their
emotional connection and the romantic possibilities between them bleed
through. They have such busy schedules, though, that entering a steady
relationship takes some adjustment for both of them!
I like that the tension continues after Ben and Aaron agree to see each
other, because the burgeoning relationship is so fragile that I
anxiously read through every new plot development wondering if it would
break them or bring them closer together. Blue writes them with just the
right amount of uncertainty to keep you guessing. I also liked that the
secondary characters are well-developed and integral to the plot lines,
rather than just filler. I definitely want to read Life or Something
Scary Like That to get all their back stories!
All in all, Life Changes Everything was a well-paced and intriguing
story that features characters with whom you genuinely empathize. The
sex is sizzling and packs an emotional punch, too. I'm looking forward
to more in this universe!
Sample
One more song, he told himself, and he'd get his stuff from Luke and
head home. He'd been doing fine on his own, after all, and at least he'd
made some sort of effort. There was always next time, and maybe someone
would approach him then. God knew he wasn't good at making the first
move.
He grinned and executed a slow spin, eyes closed to the flashing lights.
Yeah, home. Shower. Some playing with one of his toys to work off the
inevitable physical reaction to the pervasive scent of men and sweat
that would likely cling to his skin even after he'd left the Frat House.
"I like the way you move," Aaron heard, the words followed immediately
by hands closing on his hips and a strong, broad chest pressing against
his back. "Dance with me."
It was more of a demand than a request, but that was fine. In fact, it
was better than fine. If the muscled form behind him had made it a
question, Aaron thought he might have refused by habit. As it was, he
let himself nod, let the hands on him pull him back harder against skin
so heated, Aaron could feel it through his t-shirt.
"Okay," he agreed, heart suddenly racing, eyes still closed. His dance
partner laughed, and Aaron felt it all along his spine. In other places,
too, as the man's hips starting moving with his, rocking, rolling with
the music. When the hands on Aaron's hips started to wander, sliding
randomly over his cotton-clad chest, Aaron found himself swallowing a
moan. Fuck, it had been too long since he'd felt anyone touching him
like that. With intent and interest. And damn Liz for being right.
Again. He really did need to get laid.
His own hands were anything but still, pushing behind him to find
sweat-slicked skin. Smooth and hot over flexing muscle, the man behind
him felt just as good as Aaron had hoped. Maybe better. And there was
nothing wrong with the bulge he felt growing against the back of his
jeans. If anything, there was something very right about it. Something
incredibly flattering in the fact that his mystery partner was as into
the motion of body against body, of hands and skin, as Aaron was.
One big hand slid slowly down his chest as the song changed to something
slower, the fast, hard drum beats fading into an instrumental piece that
felt sultry, seductive by comparison. "Oh, I... I like the way you
dance, too," Aaron heard himself saying, and then that hand was on his
stomach, long fingers flexing over the buttons of his fly. "Fuck..."
"I'd love to." The words were murmured right against his ear, and Aaron
fought a small shiver. "Of course, I'd really like to kiss you first.
I'm a big fan of kissing."
Oh, fuck. Fuck, yes. Aaron missed kissing. Missed the slow slide of
lips, the push and pull of it as heat built. Missed the moment when soft
and careful exploded into heat and want and need, tongues battling,
striving for more and deeper and yes. He hadn't realized how much he'd
missed it until just then, but he did. Almost more than actual sex.
"Kissing is good," Aaron answered with a moan, his body finding the
slow, sinuous rhythm underlying the song, playing it out against the
larger frame behind him. "We could do that. Uhnnn... I'm Aaron."
"Nice to meet you, Aaron," the man said, slowly pulling back, and when
those big hands turned him, Aaron let his eyes open to find that he and
his new friend had somehow moved from the dance floor to the deeply
shadowed area at the back of the bar. He had a vague impression of dark
hair and a wide smile, but then that smile was on him, lips hot and soft
against his own, and Aaron melted from more than the steamy heat in the
dark.
God, it had been ages since Aaron had kissed or been kissed. They didn't
make a toy that could do it right, and Rich hadn't been into it. But the
man against him was erasing that time, striking the lack of intimacy
from Aaron's mind with nothing more than intent. Soft brushes at first
as their mouths met, but then... oh, heat. Strong tongue, pushing
between Aaron's lips. Gentle for a moment, but then pressing deep,
meeting his own, sliding, mapping teeth and palate, tasting of man and
want and a small hint of beer and it was good. Better than good. It was
stunning in its simplicity.
"Oh, God." Aaron groaned into the man's mouth, his arms wrapping tight
around naked skin, body pushing hard at muscled flesh, cock pounding in
time with his hammering heartbeat. And the guy moaned, pressed closer,
pinning Aaron between solid strength and the wall. Strong hands moved
purposefully, firmly, stroking Aaron's sides, pushing up under his
t-shirt, then down over his jeans, pressing back, pulling, pushing
around to grasp Aaron's ass through denim, and God help him, but Aaron
wanted more.
"Fuck. Please," he gasped, pulling away from that hot mouth, that wicked
tongue, suddenly sure he could come just from the way the man kissed.
"Jesus."
A shaky laugh answered him, and the man shook his head. "Ben," he
murmured against Aaron's neck, breaths gusting fast and hard. "I'm Ben.
Not Jesus. Pretty sure God is busy with other things right now, Aaron."
Point. Good point. "Tell me we can get out of here," the guy -- Ben --
said next, and yes. Fuck, yes.