Title: It’s Complicated by L.A. Witt
Tucker Springs Book Seven
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance
Length: 205 pages/Word Count: 52,000
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher
Summary:
After their umpteenth breakup, Brad Sweeney and Jeff Hayden are living apart and starting over from scratch. The morning after a promising first date, they’re more optimistic than ever that they can make it work this time . . . until Jeff’s ex-wife and business partner calls to announce she’s pregnant with Jeff’s baby. Brad’s already competing with a demanding business for Jeff’s time. Now there’s a baby on the way, and worse, he’s afraid Jeff is still carrying a torch for the woman who’s carrying his child.
Jeff is desperately trying to keep his life together, but before he can even get his head around the news that he’s going to be a father, his ex announces that she wants to leave Tucker Springs. Now he either has to take over her role at the shop while ferrying the baby back and forth from Denver, or move the business—and himself—with her.
Brad and Jeff knew reconciliation wouldn’t be easy, but they’re rapidly running out of room for compromise. And sooner or later, something has to give.
The Review:
I absolutely adore the Tucker Springs series, and L.A. Witt’s newest contribution, It’s Complicated, is a rollercoaster ride of emotion as Brad Sweeney and Jeff Hayden try to make their on again/off again relationship work. But a surprise pregnancy, Jeff’s grueling work schedule and Brad’s (well-founded) insecurities threaten to derail their fragile new beginning.
Brad and Jeff’s tentative reconciliation is off to great beginning. Their “first” date is a resounding success and the sex is hotter than ever, but with one phone call, they are quickly back on shaky ground. During their last break, Jeff and his ex-wife Christine, who is also his business partner, indulged in a one night stand and now Christine is pregnant. Even more surprising is Christine’s decision to leave Tucker Springs and their very successful company. While Jeff is thrilled about becoming a dad, he is conflicted about Christine’s plans and coming up with a solution that works for everyone is virtually impossible.
Written in first person from both Brad and Jeff’s perspectives, there is never any doubt what each character is thinking. Both agree that Jeff’s long hours are a major source of conflict and that numerous minor irritations are the catalyst for major blow ups. They never seem to address the underlying issues which, in part, stem from Jeff’s continued relationship with Christine and his inability to fully commit to Brad. And all of this a problem before Christine’s pregnancy, so it is not any wonder that Brad’s concerns that Jeff and Christine will reconcile become a big issue for him. There is never any doubt that Brad and Jeff love each other, but their obstacles do seem insurmountable. Of course, the solution to their problems is staring them in the face for the whole novel, but getting them to see it takes forever!
It’s Complicated is an engaging and fast-paced addition to the Tucker Springs series. The story is well-written, the problems between Brad and Jeff are realistic and since this is an L.A. Witt novel, the sex is hot. While there is a lot of emotional turmoil, the novel does not really feel overly angsty. There really aren’t any communication issues between Brad and Jeff and they do a fabulous job discussing their issues. However they are often unable to come up with viable answers for their unresolved problems and I love that neither is willing to give up on their relationship without a fight.
