The Promise of Together: Fisher & Church, Book 3

I hesitantly began this series thinking that this is going to be another gay cops and robbers series with some extra added drama. Well I was quite wrong. I have enjoyed most of the books Jay Hogan has written (not so much the super mushy ones written for straight women) and this series goes to the top of the list. So many gay oriented love stories are written by straight women which I just have a hard time wrapping my head around - how do so many straight women know what gay men like so much? - (honestly, I mean no offense ladies) but Jay just totally gets it. I laughed and cried while reading this book. Jay's writing is humorous, yet very touching too. This series actually parallels my own life in so many ways. Having a boyfriend for 23 years and suddenly not having him. It has taken me 18 years to have met someone who can't replace my first love, but comes damn close to that. The fact that we are both older now just like Mads and Nick puts things in more perspective than it did when I was 23 and met my first love. Minus the kidnapping and breaking up an underaged sex trafficking ring the parallels are almost identical. So for me, it was easy to relate. One thing I did not care for was the way Jay presented Mads and Nick's engagement - if that is what it was. Unless I am missing something, you kind of had to assume that part of the grand finale. I was kind of surprised at how the very ending was handled. Sort of a rush ending. All in all, I loved the series and hate to…

Don’t get me wrong. I love a steamy romance about men in their 20s and 30s. What’s not to like? But being a 63-year-old gay man who’s been in a committed relationship for 30 years, it’s so nice to see two men in their 50s find love. The characters in the series are relatable to me and probably to other readers who identify as (youngish) seniors. I particularly enjoy the little details that Jay drops into the story about men aging gracefully (no ED issues reported, but -bought and read wonky joints and gray chest hair anyone?) I bought all three books in this series, and I’ve read practically every other book she’s published. She’s really a gifted storyteller, and she can always bring it a tear to my eye. Keep on keeping on, Jay.