Roughnecks & Butterflies (Ore 5 Book 1) by Meraki P. Lyhne

".....but never really seen." Roughnecks & Butterflies 

From the blurb:

What should have been the start of a life with lots of money, a prestigious job, and adventures in space, quickly turned sour as the promised job got downsized while Ethan was in route to Ore 5. Now there, he doesn’t even have enough money for the return ticket to Earth.

Stuck in the outskirts of the housing for the miners, he quickly finds that his usual standards are impossible to uphold. A new coworker opens up a new world to him, and in this world, the center of gravity is a big tattooed strip club owner named Ryder.

On the outside, Ryder is a player—promiscuous and superficial. And he has no problem throwing a punch if patrons get too frisky with his dancers. But he has hidden a side of himself since he came to Ore 5.

Both Ethan and Ryder see themselves differently from what others see. One is a body-conscious, chubby accountant—the other is a sex-symbol who has become the center of attention of every gay man on the planet—even a few straight ones who want to prove they are man enough to win the challenge.

They have one thing in common, but will their differences keep them too far apart?

Miki.J's Review:

Roughnecks & Butterflies is about being thrown in the absolute deep end and working out how to survive…..I truly loved this – space opera at it’s best !!  

Great world building, background and characters.  Ethan, the poor guy, is truly having the worst day but then things start to turn around.  

Ryder is the guy who seems to have everything….but not quite.  And how they dance around each other….. so very adorkable – awkward moments, sweet and hell-a-hot (definitely no prudes here !!). 

And I really loved how the author was able to the feelings and emotions of movement in written form – so very well done !  

Preconceptions and past hurts truly do change your outlook …. if you let them.

Rating: 5 Stars