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Sutter's Bay #2
Twice In A Lifetime
Five years ago, British transplant, Jude, left San Francisco after the tragic murder of his lover, Martin. Heartbroken, he settled in Sutter's Bay and opened a small flower shop, hoping that surrounding himself with bright colors and pretty things—living things—would somehow lessen the anguish he felt over his loss.
Jude never expects to find a love like he shared with Martin ever again. Certainly a love like theirs won't come along twice in a lifetime. But then Jude meets sexy Rex Warner, the new veterinarian in Sutter's Bay, and he can't help but wonder if his luck has changed.
Will Rex be able to stop Jude from dwelling on the painful past and look toward a promising future instead?
This story is part of the Sutter's Bay series.
Gay / Contemporary / Series
99 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2010
8 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Shawn Lane
131 books311 followersShawn Lane writes erotic gay romances and believes love and passion know no boundaries. Happily Ever After is for everyone.
In the past she has written heterosexual romances (see her backlist) but is now concentrating on gay romances.
Shawn lives in California and holds down a boring day job in a legal department of a giant corporation dreaming of the nights and weekends when she can create new stories.
Shawn loves to hear from readers, is happy to answer any questions, and has been known to send free books to fans just because.
In the past she has written heterosexual romances (see her backlist) but is now concentrating on gay romances.
Shawn lives in California and holds down a boring day job in a legal department of a giant corporation dreaming of the nights and weekends when she can create new stories.
Shawn loves to hear from readers, is happy to answer any questions, and has been known to send free books to fans just because.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 9, 2010
I'm not going to attempt to review this book since Ivan wrote an outstandingly spectacular review on it already...BUT I do want to point out that this book is one of my favorites that Shawn has written. To put it bluntly I'm totally infactuated with the sexy Jude. He's adorable from the top of his fun colored hair to the bottom of his feet. Loved him and I loved how he learned to take a chance and love again.
September 13, 2010
I can't really add anything new to what's already been said about this book. Ivan wrote a great review that really says it all. I do want to add that Jude is a definite top 3 of my favorite heroes that Shawn has written. Not only is he unique and very sexy, I thought he's a pretty complex character, too. His grief was portrayed very realistically. I also liked how the relationship between Jude and Rex developed throughout the novel. Not only did I feel the intense chemistry between them, I liked that they genuinely liked and respected one another.
I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
August 20, 2016
This needed to be a longer book
2.5-stars
I like a novella, but in order to enjoy this shorter form of novel, it (novella) needs to feel complete.
The author, while a perfectly competent writer, left some things in the story unaddressed.
2.5-stars
I like a novella, but in order to enjoy this shorter form of novel, it (novella) needs to feel complete.
The author, while a perfectly competent writer, left some things in the story unaddressed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2010
WOW! I have to say I really like this one.
This is a very moving and heart felt story about for one learning to love again and taking the chance on love again and for the other the patience and understanding that comes from loving someone.
I fell for the character (Jude) in the first one, thought he was cute, adorable, colorful, funny character someone I wanted to know more about, and was very glad he held on it thru out this one. Sometimes when a colorful person in introduced in one book, then gets their own story Some of the colorfulness (personality wise and/or physical appearance) gets lost within the story, and I didn't see that with this one.
I agree with a couple of other comments, that there is plenty of angst in this one. I too got teary at a couple of parts (ok few parts) and I wasn't even tipsy.. LOL. I can't wait for the next one in this series.
A better blurb from Amber Allure: Five years ago, British transplant, Jude, left San Francisco after the tragic murder of his lover, Martin. Heartbroken, he settled in Sutter's Bay and opened a small flower shop, hoping that surrounding himself with bright colors and pretty things—living things—would somehow lessen the anguish he felt over his loss.
Jude never expects to find a love like he shared with Martin ever again. Certainly a love like theirs won't come along twice in a lifetime. But then Jude meets sexy Rex Warner, the new veterinarian in Sutter's Bay, and he can't help but wonder if his luck has changed.
Will Rex be able to stop Jude from dwelling on the painful past and look toward a promising future instead?
This is a very moving and heart felt story about for one learning to love again and taking the chance on love again and for the other the patience and understanding that comes from loving someone.
I fell for the character (Jude) in the first one, thought he was cute, adorable, colorful, funny character someone I wanted to know more about, and was very glad he held on it thru out this one. Sometimes when a colorful person in introduced in one book, then gets their own story Some of the colorfulness (personality wise and/or physical appearance) gets lost within the story, and I didn't see that with this one.
I agree with a couple of other comments, that there is plenty of angst in this one. I too got teary at a couple of parts (ok few parts) and I wasn't even tipsy.. LOL. I can't wait for the next one in this series.
A better blurb from Amber Allure: Five years ago, British transplant, Jude, left San Francisco after the tragic murder of his lover, Martin. Heartbroken, he settled in Sutter's Bay and opened a small flower shop, hoping that surrounding himself with bright colors and pretty things—living things—would somehow lessen the anguish he felt over his loss.
Jude never expects to find a love like he shared with Martin ever again. Certainly a love like theirs won't come along twice in a lifetime. But then Jude meets sexy Rex Warner, the new veterinarian in Sutter's Bay, and he can't help but wonder if his luck has changed.
Will Rex be able to stop Jude from dwelling on the painful past and look toward a promising future instead?
September 6, 2010
3.75 stars. Not the best Shawn Lane but good enough to keep the author on my autobuy for awhile. I haven't read Sweet Reunion and didn't have it on my reader when I started Jude's story or I would have likely read SR first.
Nothing much to say apart from repeating the synopsis, which there's no point doing. I'd have preferred a little more angst between the couple but Rex and Jude just fall alongside each other like two smooth perfect halves which, while enviable if in RL, makes for rather dull reading in romantic fiction. There were also a couple of repetitious phrases that made me feel as if SL is churning these books out as fast as she can without going over it with a keener eye. For example, "...tall, over six feet." is used for both Rex and Galaxy and the two descriptions of Jude's "...sweatshirt that said Newcastle United." is so similar it did read as Ms Lane had forgotten she'd already described it that way earlier.
It's formulaic SL, a comfort read and I need these now and then but now I feel an urgent need for something hard, gritty and suspenseful so it looks like I need to run for one of my mainstream suspense paperbacks.
Nothing much to say apart from repeating the synopsis, which there's no point doing. I'd have preferred a little more angst between the couple but Rex and Jude just fall alongside each other like two smooth perfect halves which, while enviable if in RL, makes for rather dull reading in romantic fiction. There were also a couple of repetitious phrases that made me feel as if SL is churning these books out as fast as she can without going over it with a keener eye. For example, "...tall, over six feet." is used for both Rex and Galaxy and the two descriptions of Jude's "...sweatshirt that said Newcastle United." is so similar it did read as Ms Lane had forgotten she'd already described it that way earlier.
It's formulaic SL, a comfort read and I need these now and then but now I feel an urgent need for something hard, gritty and suspenseful so it looks like I need to run for one of my mainstream suspense paperbacks.
September 10, 2010
Oh wow, this was so friggin' sweet! I love Jude!
Little excerpt from the book:
"And the truth was...he did love Rex. Fucking adored him. Who wouldn't? He was handsome, kind, caring, patient, successful. A dream man. But Jude was still scared. He'd been lucky enough to meet the man of his dreams before. To be able to have that twice in a lifetime was surely the stuff of fairytales."
Indeed, it is. This was an endearing, sappy, made me melt into a sentimental pile of goo, fantastic read! I loved it!
Jude lost his first love in a awful robbery gone wrong. Five years later, he meets Rex, a patient, gorgeous vet from Texas. Jude is still working through emotional turmoil from the murder of his lover and is rather gun-shy about relationships, but Rex is able to convince Jude to date him. Throughout the story Jude deals with a plethora of fears and sadness regarding his previous lovers murder, but does manage to get his happily ever after with soul-mate number two at the end.
Little excerpt from the book:
"And the truth was...he did love Rex. Fucking adored him. Who wouldn't? He was handsome, kind, caring, patient, successful. A dream man. But Jude was still scared. He'd been lucky enough to meet the man of his dreams before. To be able to have that twice in a lifetime was surely the stuff of fairytales."
Indeed, it is. This was an endearing, sappy, made me melt into a sentimental pile of goo, fantastic read! I loved it!
Jude lost his first love in a awful robbery gone wrong. Five years later, he meets Rex, a patient, gorgeous vet from Texas. Jude is still working through emotional turmoil from the murder of his lover and is rather gun-shy about relationships, but Rex is able to convince Jude to date him. Throughout the story Jude deals with a plethora of fears and sadness regarding his previous lovers murder, but does manage to get his happily ever after with soul-mate number two at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2015
Oh well - another one of those books, you know which ones I'm talking about, the ones I would have loved a few years ago. Now - it was ok, nothing more.
And did I miss why the younger brother needs the money and what his problem is???
And did I miss why the younger brother needs the money and what his problem is???
Read
August 10, 2016A cute story but waaay too much sex for a longer novel let alone something that only checked in at an hour and a half on my Kindle. Some of the sex scene page time could have been used to address a few unanswered questions I had or scenes I wanted to see.
Some backstory for Jude, I mean I didn't even realise the guy was British until 72%.
Danny suggests they meet up for dinner but the dinner never took place (at least not on page) nor was it mentioned.
An explanation as to what Steve was hiding and a bit more time spent with Rex's family.
Some backstory for Jude, I mean I didn't even realise the guy was British until 72%.
Danny suggests they meet up for dinner but the dinner never took place (at least not on page) nor was it mentioned.
An explanation as to what Steve was hiding and a bit more time spent with Rex's family.
March 5, 2012
Great story!
The beginning was heartbreaking and I nearly cried (I'm a sap, I know!), but I thought that was the saddest part and man was I wrong! Jude's memories about the cruelty of Martin's family - that was beyond awful, my heart ached for him. But I'm so happy he found Rex and I adored Rex's patience and his loving and caring for Jude - that's just what he needed. They both needed, it turned out :) So again I cried happy tears, when Jude finally said the l-word to Rex.
Heartwarming book!
The beginning was heartbreaking and I nearly cried (I'm a sap, I know!), but I thought that was the saddest part and man was I wrong! Jude's memories about the cruelty of Martin's family - that was beyond awful, my heart ached for him. But I'm so happy he found Rex and I adored Rex's patience and his loving and caring for Jude - that's just what he needed. They both needed, it turned out :) So again I cried happy tears, when Jude finally said the l-word to Rex.
Heartwarming book!
January 4, 2017
thoroughly enjoyed this book
September 9, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This was a delightful read that gave me the happy satisfaction at the end. It’s technically the second book in the series, but don’t let that deter you; the book works perfectly as a standalone.
I loved Jude from the very beginning, and my heart just ached for him and his loss. But more than that, I admired his strength and his resolve. He had been through something horrific, and what happened immediately after made everything worse. Jude has issues, of course, and it’s no surprise. But what I really liked here was that they were apart of Jude, but they weren’t all he was. He was a wonderfully layered character, and everything about him rang true. His determination to live his life, was never at odds with his insecurities or his worries and fears. They all fit together to make a beautifully nuanced character. I believed Jude wholeheartedly.
Rex was wonderfully sweet and understanding, and he had a huge heart of gold. What made me happy about his character was that he just seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and it never strayed into the “too good to be true” category. Too easily, it could have. Rex could have gone too far and been unbelievable. But while it’s true he had few flaws, he did have a real feeling to him that made it all work. And he was perfect for Jude, exactly the right guy for him and I loved seeing them navigate their relationship. Their chemistry sparked and caught quickly, and they just fit together.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This was a delightful read that gave me the happy satisfaction at the end. It’s technically the second book in the series, but don’t let that deter you; the book works perfectly as a standalone.
I loved Jude from the very beginning, and my heart just ached for him and his loss. But more than that, I admired his strength and his resolve. He had been through something horrific, and what happened immediately after made everything worse. Jude has issues, of course, and it’s no surprise. But what I really liked here was that they were apart of Jude, but they weren’t all he was. He was a wonderfully layered character, and everything about him rang true. His determination to live his life, was never at odds with his insecurities or his worries and fears. They all fit together to make a beautifully nuanced character. I believed Jude wholeheartedly.
Rex was wonderfully sweet and understanding, and he had a huge heart of gold. What made me happy about his character was that he just seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and it never strayed into the “too good to be true” category. Too easily, it could have. Rex could have gone too far and been unbelievable. But while it’s true he had few flaws, he did have a real feeling to him that made it all work. And he was perfect for Jude, exactly the right guy for him and I loved seeing them navigate their relationship. Their chemistry sparked and caught quickly, and they just fit together.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
April 19, 2012
3.5 stars
I really liked Jude and Rex's story much better than Jason and Danny's. In this sequel, we get much more into the story and the background of the characters (though, honestly, it is heavily biased towards Jude, as to be expected), which worked for me. I thought that Jude's fears were written well after the trauma he'd witnessed and the loss he'd had, but wasn't overdone.
I feel like this series has a lot of pacing problems. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is that bothers me, but it feels like the characters are very internalized into their relationships so that the outside world only gets a little bit of page time. This means that internal conflict has to push the story forward (which worked more here, less so in Sweet Reunion). Still, that means that there's a bit of a stop/start feeling of the pacing that jarred me a little bit at some points and left me a little bored in others where it would lull out.
Still, my problems aside, I found this sequel much more enjoyable than the previous story.
I really liked Jude and Rex's story much better than Jason and Danny's. In this sequel, we get much more into the story and the background of the characters (though, honestly, it is heavily biased towards Jude, as to be expected), which worked for me. I thought that Jude's fears were written well after the trauma he'd witnessed and the loss he'd had, but wasn't overdone.
I feel like this series has a lot of pacing problems. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is that bothers me, but it feels like the characters are very internalized into their relationships so that the outside world only gets a little bit of page time. This means that internal conflict has to push the story forward (which worked more here, less so in Sweet Reunion). Still, that means that there's a bit of a stop/start feeling of the pacing that jarred me a little bit at some points and left me a little bored in others where it would lull out.
Still, my problems aside, I found this sequel much more enjoyable than the previous story.
September 12, 2010
Florist Jude still suffers periodic nightmares of the murder of his lover five years ago. One day at the diner he sees a gorgeous cowboy come in. Rex is the new vet in town and is indeed from Texas. When Jude’s cat decides to have a go at the neighbor’s chihuahua, he has his reason to meet the vet, who asks him out. Jude is not looking for a relationship but they start dating and things are going really well until Rex wants him to meet his family which freaks Jude out. After his dead lover’s family treated him cruelly when he was murdered and his own family is less than accepting, he’s not too keen on the idea of having to deal with that again. It is a very sweet story and Jude is fun and flamboyant and Rex loves him that way. He doesn’t try to change him, doesn’t try to push him into therapy for dealing with the murder, just supports him. It a very enjoyable story with some steamy semxin‘ as Rex and Jude definitely have chemistry.
November 5, 2011
This was Jude's story and definitely my favorite of the two Sutter's Bay books I've read. Jude is a transplant from San Francisco where he witnessed his partner's murder. Under his different colored hair, make-up and his friendly shop owner facade lies a sweet man trying his best to make it from one day to the next. He doesn't think that he will ever find a love again after Martin until one day he takes a chance on Rex. Rex is Sutter's Bay's new, hot cowboy veterinarian. Rex is almost an opposite of Jude but the romance blooms despite Jude's constant doubts and fears. The story line ran smoothly and the HEA ending didn't leave the reader guessing the was Sweet Reunion did. I truly liked and cared about both Jude and Rex.
November 27, 2011
It started off sad, but interesting. I liked the first 20 to 30 percent. Then I started getting bored and somewhere around 43% they started having sex and that’s all they did for the rest of the book. And it wasn’t good sex it was boring and repetitive all that changed was the location sex in a bed, in the shower, in a car in a parking garage, in a hot tub, a lot more sex in beds, all the same with a new location. If it wasn’t so short and for my bingo challenge no way I would have finished this. I guess since they were having sex all the time there was no need for character or plot development. By the end nothing was really resolved random crap was mentioned just to leave it unanswered
January 31, 2017
I liked Jude - still hurting after the brutal murder of his boyfriend of 5 years prior and his treatment by the family. Gun-shy on the relationship front is putting it mildly.
Texas Rex is the new vet in town and luckily is good with skitterish animals and Judes!
A character driven story with lots of sex as expected from the author. Enjoyed it.
Part of a series but Easily read standalone.
Would have liked more of Jude's Britishness to show rather than just being told he is.
Texas Rex is the new vet in town and luckily is good with skitterish animals and Judes!
A character driven story with lots of sex as expected from the author. Enjoyed it.
Part of a series but Easily read standalone.
Would have liked more of Jude's Britishness to show rather than just being told he is.
August 30, 2016
More quick love with angsty backgrounds
This is another short story which doesn't really allow telling characters time to breathe and let the reader get to know them individually b err fire they're falling in love and dealing with angsty pasts.
Rex was almost too good to be true but I guess there are people like that who don't care about what happened in their lover's lives previously when theyre in their new relationship.
This is another short story which doesn't really allow telling characters time to breathe and let the reader get to know them individually b err fire they're falling in love and dealing with angsty pasts.
Rex was almost too good to be true but I guess there are people like that who don't care about what happened in their lover's lives previously when theyre in their new relationship.
January 31, 2012
3.5 stars. I really liked Jude and Rex. Rex is so sweet and patient with Jude who is still dealing with a horrible tragedy made even worse by the terrible treatment he received at the hands of the family of his former lover. Sad that type of thing can still happen and it needs to change. Being related to someone by blood shouldn't automatically trump the family of choosing.
October 26, 2016
Review to follow at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.
ARC provided by JMS Books in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by JMS Books in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2011
Very well written, emotional story about a man not yet over the death of his lover and man who reawakens his heart. Both are nice, likable guys and the development of their relationship was well done. A great continuation in the Sutter's Bay series.
September 11, 2010
Very good m/m romance about Jude from Sweet Reunion, who hasn't gotten past his lover being murdered five years earlier. He surrounds himself with color in his small flower shop and doesn't get involved... until he meets the new vet in town.
March 3, 2015
5 years ago life was great he was happy , but one day judes partner got shot even now in present he has nightmares, He was not even allowed to say goodbye to his lover at his death bed because of his partner family.
Now he has another chance of love with a vet named rex wil he let it happen.
Now he has another chance of love with a vet named rex wil he let it happen.
October 25, 2016
I loved this story, the main characters Rex, and Jude was great. This is the first story I've read by this Author, but not the last; because I'm getting all the books in this series. The story was well written with a good story line.
August 19, 2016
3,5stars
I liked it but some things were...just missing. Backstorys and explanations for some things and yeah...there was too much sex - boring sex.
I liked it but some things were...just missing. Backstorys and explanations for some things and yeah...there was too much sex - boring sex.
May 24, 2012
MxM, Read in 2011
June 20, 2017
Loved this story, the main characters Rex, and Jude was great. . The story was well written, and had a good story line
April 2, 2017
I really liked the MCs but the ending seemed lackluster.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews