Mini-Review: Improves with Age by Lavinia Lewis

Title: Improves with Age
Author: Lavinia Lewis
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: July 17, 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

Sometimes you can go home again. Reece Watkins left Montana after high school. A math major, he found a fulfilling career as an accountant in Washington with Mike, the love of his life. But then Mike dies of a heart attack, leaving Reece to reevaluate his own life and realize he’s on the same track. He decides to return to Montana and a slower pace.

Former football team captain Nick Kenison never left Montana. Instead, he married his high school sweetheart, had two kids, established a contracting business, and discovered he was gay. Now out and proud, Nick drives out to Reece’s to answer a call about roof repairs.

In high school, they were opposites, but now? The attraction between them is electric. Of course, it isn’t that easy—Reece is still dealing with body issues, self-esteem issues, and grief over Mike’s loss. Nick will have to teach him it’s never too late for love.

Reviewed By: J9

As blog readers may know, I’m always searching out MM romance with mature leads so this short novella was a must read for me. I liked Reece, who returned to his Montana hometown after the death of his long-term partner. He’s got self-esteem issues that while realistic, also made him seem a bit needy. Nick is the contractor Reece hires to fix his roof and the men become sexually intimate VERY quickly. This romance is definitely one where it starts sexual and minimal emotional intimacy follows. I did like Reece’s worry about moving into a relationship with Nick so soon after his partner’s death and thought that was well done for such a short novella. Nick isn’t nearly as developed as Reece and that diminished my enjoyment of the novella. Still, the holiday theme of family building as the two men become a couple made for an enjoyable read for me.

J9’s Rating: