Title: A Better Man (The Men of Halfway House #1)
Author: Jaime Reese
Release: January 16, 2014
~Synopsis~
Matthew Doner is starting over. After a
five-year prison term that alters every aspect of his life, he receives a
bequest from his aunt with the stipulation that he use the money to make things
right. Breaking free of the long-standing role he’s played and inspired by the
few who support him, he decides to create a safe place where people like him
can find purpose and start a new life.
Julian Capeletti likes challenges. He is confident, brash, stubborn, and just what Matt needs. Desperate for work after a downturn of luck, he accepts the job to renovate Matt’s crumbling building.
Over the course of a year, romance simmers between them as they restore the house. But there’s a bigger renovation that must take place in their hearts. To become better men, they need to learn to trust each other even with secrets and painful memories they fear may rip them apart.
Julian Capeletti likes challenges. He is confident, brash, stubborn, and just what Matt needs. Desperate for work after a downturn of luck, he accepts the job to renovate Matt’s crumbling building.
Over the course of a year, romance simmers between them as they restore the house. But there’s a bigger renovation that must take place in their hearts. To become better men, they need to learn to trust each other even with secrets and painful memories they fear may rip them apart.
~Buy
links~
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-better-man-jaime-reese/1112389050?ean=9780991457038
~About Author~
Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who
loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far
more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels
everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she
believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.
~Social
links~
Website: http://www.jaimereese.com/
~Excerpt~
Chapter 1
June
"It's
going to be another hot one."
This
was the last thing the bubbly radio forecaster announced before Julian
Capeletti switched off the radio. It was just too damn early in the morning for
that much perkiness.
"Great,"
he grumbled as he sat up in bed and tried to rub the sleep from his face.
He
hated mornings. Some people heard birds chirping, appreciated sunrises, and saw
everything through rainbow-colored glasses in the early morning hours, but that
just wasn't him.
Especially
when he didn't have work.
He
just couldn't muster the energy needed to be as functional as he was in the
late hours—when he found his groove and could tackle even the most complex
third plane mathematical equation anyone could throw at him. Mornings, well, it
was a short list. Wake up, shower, drink coffee. Oh yeah, and don't forget to
get dressed somewhere in between. He didn't need to have the perky announcer
tell him about the weather, he could feel it firsthand as the sweat began to
trickle down his chest.
"Fucking
gross," he moaned as he rose from bed and made his way to the bathroom.
He
followed the same routine every morning. He stared at himself in the mirror, in
search of…what, who knew. He splashed some water on his face and looked again.
Maybe he should try holy water or some other miracle that would change what
stared back at him. He saw the hint of dark circles under his eyes and he hated
it.
Vanity
wasn't the issue, the dark circles were a reminder of the turn of bad luck that
had plagued him for almost two years.
Like
a series of snapshots, he always ran the images of that day through his mind.
The one that marked the beginning of when it all started going to shit with no
end in sight. Well, more than usual at least. The day his last steady foreman
project ended because the owner faced trafficking charges and fled the country
to avoid his impending capture. With assets frozen, the site was closed down
and everyone was out of a job and a steady paycheck. He'd left work early to
seek comfort in the arms of his partner, an eternal optimist, and found him
busy giving comfort of a different type to another guy.
"Asshole,"
he mumbled into the towel as he dried his face. Maybe a shower would work. Even
if it didn't wake him up, at least it would wash away the disgusting reminder
of the South Florida blazing summer heat and humidity.
Freshly
showered, Julian read the classifieds as he sipped his coffee. He closed his
eyes and exhaled, enjoying the caffeine and sugar slowly bringing him to life.
Finally. He skimmed the want ads searching for anything new that morning,
something he hadn't already called on that week. He grabbed the monthly
community paper and spotted the listing with a large bold headline
"Handyman Wanted for Repairs". A long list of requirements followed,
far beyond those for a traditional handyman. He exhaled sharply and frowned. He
had seen this a lot lately, another potential employer taking advantage of the
desperation in the workforce, wanting to hire someone for nothing. The laundry
list of responsibilities read like the licensing exam for a contractor, not a
handyman's job description. Cheap bastard.
"Contact Mr. Boner" it read toward the end, followed by an address
and phone number. He couldn't resist smiling at the play on words.
"No
wonder Boner wants a handyman." He chuckled.
A
knock at the door interrupted his morning read through the ads.
"Hey,
Jules, you in there?"
Julian
cringed, not just at the nickname he hated so strongly, but at the voice he
knew came to deliver bad news. He reluctantly rose to answer the knock.
"Hi,
David," he said as he slowly opened the door to greet the short, paunchy
landlord.
"So,
you got my rent this month?" David asked hopefully.
"I'll
have some money for you by the end of the week." He rubbed his hands on
his towel and looked away.
"That's
what you said last week." David shifted to cross his arms in an attempt to
intimidate.
Julian
looked down at the short man and couldn't blame him for trying. He knew David
well enough to realize that he didn't have a choice but to push at this point.
He figured the guy was getting some unneeded pressure from the boss.
"I
gave you some money last week."
"That
was to cover the rent from two months ago. What about last month or this
one?"
Julian's
head began to hurt. This had been the ritual almost every day for the last
month. He was a creature of habit, but there were some customs he wished would
change.
"David,
I told you I'd have some by the end of the week. I just need a little
time."
"That's
what they all say!" His landlord raised his arms in frustration.
"Look,
I know I'm late, I'm not denying that, but at least when you come knocking, I
don't run and hide from you like your other tenants. I said I'll have money for
you at the end of the week and I will. I've never backed down on my word."
"Yet,
you're late on your monthly payment."
"And
I told you I would be. Fuck, David, I said I was going to be late and you
agreed it wasn't a problem as long as I paid you something each week. I'm doing
that." He rubbed his shaved head roughly.
"How
much? Will it be enough to cover the two months you owe me?" David
pleaded.
"I
don't know. I'm guessing probably not by the end of the week."
"Jules,
I can't keep doing this."
"I
know. I just need some time," Julian said quietly, looking away as he
rubbed his wrist cuff.
"Why
don't you sell your truck?"
Julian
looked at him as if the burly man had sprouted another head. "Dude, I'm
not selling my truck. I need it for work."
"Please,
Jules, I like you, but I can't have you livin' here for free. You know that. My
bosses are pushing me for the rent. I need two months' rent by the end of the
week or they're forcing me to kick you out of here."
Julian
could see both frustration and understanding in the man's eyes. He'd known this
day would come. Had dreaded it for the last few weeks. He rubbed his head and
looked away. He tried to make an honest living, avoided trouble, and where did
that leave him? Standing in his doorway with a towel around his waist trying to
think of ways to scavenge up two months' rent just to be back at square one
again. He couldn't think of anything to say so he simply nodded.
David
looked at him and patted him on the shoulder. "Jules, you're a hard worker
and a smart cookie. I'm sure you'll find a way."
Ugh. First Jules now
cookie. Seriously?
"Thanks,
David," he grumbled, hoping that would give the man the signal to turn and
leave.
Mission
accomplished. He closed the door and leaned his forehead against it. He blew
out a deep breath, willing a new idea to blindside him. He thought of different
quickie jobs and crossed each one off for different reasons. Well, he always
had the option to sell his ass on Eighth Street, but who was he kidding? No one
would give him two months' rent for his bits. He laughed at himself. He had to.
It was the only way he'd remain sane when life gave him the shit end of the
stick. He turned to see the newspaper still sitting on the table. He walked
over and grabbed his coffee and gulped the little bit of remaining java along
with his pride.
If
the guy needed a handyman, he was going to be the best damn handyman that cheap
bastard had ever seen. If that didn't work, well, Eighth Street was actually
starting to sound pretty damn good.
~Review~
A Better Man is one of those stories that will leave you
very well satisfied in the end, as always I love a well thought out HEA. I love
Julian so much, he’s the guys for Matt, and they equal each other out as a
couple. Julian was able to show Matt that yes you can be playful and serious
all at the same, he made Matt feel. Matt was just so focused on the bad that he
didn’t want to realize that he would be the “better man” for Julian. He thought
and assumed that just because of his past Julian wouldn’t understand, he had to
learn to trust Julian with his heart. Then we have Julian, he was so strong in
his beliefs and in whom he is that he stood by Matt when he was faced with
revealing his sexuality to his parents. He helped Matt realize that they need
to love him for who he is, especially his mother. I think this was a very well
written, well thought out story with a very good meaning. I cannot wait to
until “A Hunted Man” comes out; it is one of the books that I am anticipating
for this year. Great story told by Jaime Reese, perfect book.
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