Try by Ella Frank

Try – verb: to make an attempt or effort to do something or in this case…someone.
Sex. Logan Mitchell loves it, and ever since he realized his raw sexual appeal at a young age, he has had no problem using it to his advantage. Men and women alike fall into his bed—after all, Logan is not one to discriminate. He lives by one motto—if something interests you, why not just take a chance and try?
And he wants to try Tate Morrison.
Just coming out of a four-year marriage with an ex-wife from hell, a relationship is the last thing on Tate’s mind. He’s starting fresh and trying to get back on his feet with a new job at an upscale bar in downtown Chicago.
The only problem is, Tate has caught the unwavering and unwelcome attention of Mr. Logan Mitchell – a regular at the bar and a man who always gets what he wants.
Night after night Tate fends off the persistent advances of the undeniably charismatic man, but after an explosive moment in the bar, all bets are off as he finds his body stirring with a different desire than his mind.
As arrogance, stubbornness and sexual tension sizzles between the two, it threatens to change the very course of their lives.
Logan doesn’t do relationships. Tate doesn’t do men. But what would happen if they both just gave in and…tried?

Hands down, this is one of the best m/m books I have ever read.  I am not a big reader of this genre, mostly because I find it difficult to connect with the characters.  However, Ella Frank does an excellent job of making these characters accessible and charismatic.  I think I was just as charmed by Logan as everyone else!

Logan is an indiscriminate lover.  Men, women…it matters not to him.  If he finds a person interesting or attractive and wants them, he usually gets them.  Tate, however, is not someone who wants attention from Logan or is interested in it.  He just got out of a marriage and is hoping to start his life over in a new place with a new job at a bar.  Logan is a regular and Tate catches his eye, and Logan is nothing if not persistent. Will Logan get what he wants?  Will Tate give in and discover a side to himself that he didn’t know existed?

Well, holy hotness, Batman!  This was probably one of the sexiest and hottest books I have ever read, and that’s really saying something!  The chemistry between Logan and Tate is off the charts, and the buildup between them makes it even hotter.  There’s a bit of a cat and mouse game being played between them for most of this book, and I really enjoyed that dynamic. 

Another great thing about this book is that even though it full of deliciously wicked sex, it’s still got a plot.  And a good plot at that.  The characters are very well developed, which only helps to add to the storyline, as you become attached to them and their very real struggles over the course of the book.  There’s one part in this book that absolutely gutted me, and it takes a lot to gut this reader.  But it happened.  I really, really felt connected and invested in these character and their vulnerabilities.  They were very real to me, and I can’t emphasize enough how truly talented an author must be to pull that off.  Ella Frank is a master!

Overall, this is probably not only one of the best m/m books I’ve read, but one of the best romance books period.  It’s so well written with such good characters, I’m not really sure how someone could NOT like this book.  If you’ve not read it, what are you waiting for? 5 stars!

I have to admit, if this were a standalone book, I would be very upset and angered over lack of a complete plot in this book.  Since it is a series, I sit back and admire how the author is going about this.  I recently read a series where book one was a hit, book two left people disappointed because the couple had to go back to a normal life and it bored the readers.  Ella Franks took a different approach; she let this book Try be the beginnings of a relationship and the awkward moments, moments of boredom, the thrill of new adventures and expanded it to fill the whole book.  The next book Take I am assuming will be the next phase in their relationship.

Logan has a law firm with his brother Cole.  Their history is explained in prior books by this author but for now Logan is single, sexy and on the prowl for anything that isn’t a committed relationship.  He is attracted to both women and men but after stopping at a bar one night he meets Tate, the new bartender. Tate is in the process of divorcing his wife because he just can’t consider living the rest of his life that unhappy.  He isn’t sure what will bring him happiness but he is sure it isn’t a life with her.  Tate flirts with the women at the bar while Logan watches.  Not sure if Tate would ever consider a night with him, he begins to extend that option with his own comments with hidden meanings and gestures that leave Tate rather confused.

The plan started to come together when Tate is surprised to find Logan’s law firm is involved in his divorce and he comes face to face with Logan in the conference room during a meeting.  Once they were left alone the passion was too strong to deny and they begin to allow their feelings to surface and the beginning of a relationship was formed.

The rest of this book was mainly their sexual relationship, but there was more there if the reader was paying attention.  Logan had never wanted to settle down until he met Tate.  Now he is going to have to confess to him that he is serious about Tate and prove to him that the trust he has in Logan isn’t misplaced.  Tate will have to come to terms with the fact he enjoys being with Logan and what does that say about him as far as society and labels.  Tate is going to need to come out of his shell in public when he is with Logan and be free to show his affections. 

Tate also has to believe Logan when he says this isn’t a moment of passion and once Tate changes his world and comes out to his family and friends that Logan won’t just get bored and leave.  Tate is a deep thinker and Logan is also a great analyzer of people and situations.  If it weren’t for this angle that the author took in the book I would not be giving it high ratings.  It would just become a book of sex with one teaching the other new things.  I love how she took the feelings and thoughts of each character and developed them into the story giving each fear and concern a voice, while allowing them to still be adorable in the way they communicate and react to each other.  I would think this is a perfect example of what each person in that situation has thought about and felt during the coming out phase. 

I can hardly wait to read Take and see where the author takes Logan and Tate next.  Now that they have gotten over the awkwardness and insecurity of being together, I can see how they could take over the world as they are such a great duo when working together. 

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