Rustic Moment by Nic Starr

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog for today’s blog tour. In Rustic Moment by Nic Starr, Dave and Grant have to figure out that a house is just bricks and wood. It’s the people inside who really make it a home. I received one copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

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Title: Rustic Moment

Series: Rustic #3

Author: Nic Starr

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: April 15, 2016

Betrayal, heartbreak, and financial ruin are only the beginning.
The last few months have been tough on Grant Parnell. He discovered his boyfriend was having an affair and it’s taken its toll, both emotionally and financially. With his business facing ruin, Grant could lose everything.

Dave Monroe is excited to start a new phase of his life. He’s following his dream and pursuing an exciting career opportunity. When Grant visits his friends in the country and finds out Dave might be moving to Melbourne, he offers him a place to stay. For Dave, life’s looking good.

Dave had only met Grant a couple of times before moving in with him, but the simmering sexual attraction is undeniable. As he settles into Grant’s home, deeper feelings develop. It’s hard not to fall for Grant’s gorgeous exterior, but it’s the strong man underneath who captures Dave’s heart.

Grant always craved success. His business and his home are testament to just how far he’s come, proving his family wrong and making something of himself—or he had. Now everything is falling apart. As Grant’s world spirals out of control, Dave is the one sure thing in his life.

But if they are to have any chance at happiness, Dave will need to teach Grant what’s really important.

Rustic Moment is book 3 of the Rustic Series by Nic Starr. You could certainly read this as a standalone but since many of the characters are from previous stories, you will have a much better understanding of the book if you read them all in order.

This story takes place in Melbourn rather than the smaller town that the previous ones were set in. Grant and Dave are casual acquaintances through a few mutual friends. Grant is from Melbourn and when Dave ends up in the area for work, he is invited to be a guest in Grant’s home for a while. They have a wonderfully realistic development of friendship between them with quite a bit of chemistry that they act on slowly. These are real guys with real emotions, hangups, social lives and financial issues. It is the financial issues that seem to be causing Grant the most angst.

Grant was screwed over royally by his ex boyfriend who happens to be his ex business partner. He is emotionally fragile, a horrible communicator, a bit of a workaholic and completely broke. He is struggling to keep the company going and it is taking its toll on his emotional well-being. I thought he was a bit of a jerk in the beginning, honestly, and his snobbery and worry about social image just turned me off. I understand it was a starting point for the story and his character but still didn’t really like him.

Dave is a good guy and incredibly tolerant. Honestly, he has the patience of a saint for putting up with the workaholic poor communicator that he is living with. He wants to help. He feels the need to protect and care for Grant but Grant is a bit prickly about it. I definitely liked Dave’s character more than I did Grants’.

After a few bouts of miscommunication, some guidance from friends and a few rather life altering decisions, these two guys do get their happily ever after. It just takes them a while to get there. And, I will say I didn’t like certain things about the ending of the book. I won’t say what or you will know what happens but they do not end up where I wanted these guys to end up.

Overall, Rustic Moment by Nic Starr is a nice romance between two realistic guys who fall in love despite their horrible lack of communication. I thought some of the arguments between them seemed a little forced to create additional drama but it wasn’t over the top.

“I said no.”

Grant’s voice was loud enough to travel down the hall. Dave immediately tensed at the tone. He couldn’t tell if Grant was angry or just being firm, but his words were clear. “This is the last time I want to have this conversation. You aren’t welcome here anymore.”

“I just want to know what you said to Douglas.” The answering voice was menacing, and Dave’s hackles rose.

Who on earth is that?

Dave placed the milk bottle on the benchtop and edged closer to the doorway. Grant could no doubt take care of himself, but Dave wanted to be close at hand. Just in case.

In case of what?

It didn’t matter what, it only mattered that Dave make sure Grant was okay, and the stranger’s voice didn’t sound anywhere near okay.

“What are you talking about? I haven’t spoken to Doug in weeks. In fact, if you know how to contact him, maybe you can tell him to call, and that I need to speak to him and sort out some crap.”

“I know you’ve said something. He told me you were trying to shaft him and get rid of him from the business. Then he went overseas, and now he’s come back and doesn’t want to see me.”

“So he’s back, then?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t already know.”

“I’m not pretending anything. How many times do I have to tell you I haven’t seen or spoken to Doug? We haven’t exchanged so much as an email. Okay, well, maybe that’s not quite true. I’ve sent him emails and letters, but he hasn’t replied. If he doesn’t want to see you, John, that’s between you and him. It has nothing to do with me. I’ve told you before—you’re welcome to each other.”

“Don’t you dare—”

“Get your hands off me.”

Dave didn’t wait to hear any more. Before he was even conscious of moving, he was striding down the hallway, and was bloody glad he’d done it. Grant was shoved up against the wall. A guy—John, the ex-boyfriend?—gripped him by the upper arms and yelled in his face.

“Hold it right there. Get your fucking hands off him,” Dave growled.

Shocked eyes met his as John looked his way and instinctively dropped his hands. “I… ah….”

“Step away. Now.”

John hesitated for a moment, looking between Grant and Dave.

Dave didn’t take his eyes off John, watching the man’s every move. “I said now.”

Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!

When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family-an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters, and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.

You can find Nic on Facebook, Twitter and her blog. She’d love it if you stopped by to say hi.