Book Review: Walk With Me by Cardeno C.

Walk With Me by Cardeno C.Title: Walk With Me
Series: Home, Book 7
Author: Cardeno C.
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: Review copy provided by author
Published: February 7, 2014 by Dreamspinner Press

When Eli Block steps into his parents' living room and sees his childhood crush sitting on the couch, he starts a shameless campaign to seduce the young rabbi. Unfortunately, Seth Cohen barely remembers Eli and he resolutely shuts down all his advances. As a tenuous and then binding friendship forms between the two men, Eli must find a way to move past his unrequited love while still keeping his best friend in his life. Not an easy feat when the same person occupies both roles.

Professional, proper Seth is shocked by Eli's brashness, overt sexuality, and easy defiance of societal norms. But he's also drawn to the happy, funny, light-filled man. As their friendship deepens over the years, Seth watches Eli mature into a man he admires and respects. But when Seth finds himself longing for what Eli had so easily offered, he has to decide whether he's willing to veer from his safe life-plan to build a future with Eli.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: Highly enjoyable book full of humor with a sexy and tender romance that develops over time.

The Set Up: Eli has been in love with Seth since he was at summer camp so when he sees Seth in his parents’ house getting ready to start his new job as an assistant rabbi, Eli can’t help but try and seduce Seth. Seth flatly turns down Eli’s advances knowing Eli is too young for a relationship but the two men become friends. Over time Eli and Seth grow as people and have plenty of laughs until Seth decides it’s time to claim Eli as his own.

Why I Read this Book: I’ve enjoyed the romances in this sweet series as have many MM readers.

What I Liked: I loved Seth and Eli as characters and how their relationship develops over time from friends to lovers. Seth and Eli’s relationship starts as friends who support each other (and watch great movies like The Princess Bride) and go through life together. It’s rare in romance reading to see a true friendship in leads and I adored this aspect of the novel. However, that isn’t to say their relationship doesn’t turn spicy when they’re both ready for it, after all, this is a Cardeno C novel! Both characters have personal integrity so the relationship changes when the character development requires it and wow is it scorching! Seth may be a prim rabbi outside the bedroom but inside he’s a sexpot. But even better than the well written sexual chemistry is the emotional intimacy between Eli and Seth. I had butterflies along with Eli the morning after the couple’s first sexual encounter to see how Seth would react. Seth is often struck by Eli’s vivacious personality and I love the scenes where his feelings for Eli well up. How emotionally vulnerable Seth and Eli are to each other is sigh-worthy here like when Seth rushes home when Eli calls him after Eli learns a distressing fact.

What I Also Liked: I think humor is extremely difficult to convey, especially in a romance novel but this novel had many laugh out loud moments for me. I don’t want to spoil what had me grinning nearly constantly but read every part of this book, including the portion that prefaces each chapter. Seth’s job as an assistant rabbi had me in giggling in an airport as I read this book and not even caring that I looked crazy.

What I Didn’t Like: Normally I love angsty, troubled leads but that’s just not Seth or Eli. They’re just wonderful, caring men who get a delightful HEA and I couldn’t be happier.

IMO: Eli and Seth’s emotionally and sexually intimate romance concludes this series on a high note and series fans will be smiling through their tears as they finish.



J9’s Rating:
4 1/2 Frogs

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J9’s reviews for other books in this series:
Where He Ends and I Begin, Book 3
Just What the Truth Is, Book 5
The One Who Saves Me, Book 6

About J9: Vegan. Avid runner. Android addict. Never without a book in hand. Currently devouring MM romance but reads historial romance and paranormal romance as well. Follow J9 on Twitter.

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