Foxed by Jay Hogan - Review & Excerpt

Jacqueleen says "Foxed is a later in life romance that hits you right in the feels. It has definitely made its way to one of my top Jay Hogan reads."

From the blurb: 

FOXED: To be thrown into a state of uncertainty—flustered, bamboozled, bewildered, puzzled, vexed.

AKA, me. Jed Marshall. 55-year-old successful classic car mechanic; divorced, mostly closeted, and whose wholly inexperienced bisexuality has suddenly awakened after one smouldering look and said, ‘Damn, who’s the hottie?’ Or words to that effect.

Cue, Nash Collingwood. 53-year-old scarily smart high school principal; out, gay, confident, and sexy as hell. He’s also my daughter’s boss. So, not complicated at all, right? Nash could ignite a bonfire with a single sultry look, comes fully accessorised with a charm offensive Churchill would be proud of, an easy-going flattery that thrills my heart far too effortlessly, and an impressive track record with men many decades my junior.

In short, Nash is everything I’m not, and everything I’ve avoided for roughly my entire life. He’s the hot rod to my sensible family car, that is if you like your family cars with a few dents, creaky suspension, unexpected backfires, and a dodgy stick.

The last thing I need is a relationship—especially with a man. I buried that pipe dream a long time ago and a little loneliness is a small price to pay. The festive season and long summer vacation are on our doorstep. I’m finally getting things right with my family who mean everything to me, and I don’t want to mess that up.

But Nash doesn’t care about my awkward inexperience, or clumsy excuses, or any of my insecurities. Nash only sees me. He wants me. For the first time in years, I feel alive and sexy and a whole lot more than just a good father and grandfather.

I should walk away, but the closer Nash and I become, the more he fills my grey world with colour, and the promise of a second chance at love I never thought possible.

Jacqueleen The Reading Queen's Review:

What an utterly delightful romance!! When I picked this book up about two men in their 50s finding love, I didn't know what to expect. It's not often I read MCs that are my parents age currently, but I found myself absolutely delighted with Nash and Jed. Hogan made these MCs so believable and just real. From their arguments over who had the most gray in their hair to the scenes where Jed can be found checking out his face or body in the mirror wondering what Nash sees. Like I said, these MCs are just so realistic.

Foxed was also charmingly funny. I laughed out loud more than once at the banter that went on not only between the MCS, but between them and other characters in the story as well. Nash's best friend sure liked to take the piss out of him and I enjoyed their scenes together. Angst wise, I'd say this story was on the lower side for this particular author, though there is still some present. Mostly, it was just super sweet and romantic. Foxed was a great book and I'd say it's definitely one of my top reads from this author.

Rating: 5 Stars

SNiks' Review:

It's been 40 years since car mechanic Jed has acted on his attraction to another man, but meeting sexy school principal Nash causes Jed to reevaluate his life and Jed has to decide if he's willing to take the risk with his heart. Two men falling in love while still learning new things about themselves and hoping for an unexpected happily ever after.

Standalone. Mature characters. Dual POV. Classic car mechanic Jed has never felt such a strong attraction to a man as he does when he meets his daughter's boss, the smoking hot and openly gay school principal Nash. While Jed spends his free time happily babysitting his granddaughter, there are times where he wishes he could have explored his attraction to men, and Nash tempts him even though Jed’s friends and family don’t know he is bisexual. Nash usually sticks to younger men, one and done, but the crush he has on silver fox Jed is too strong to ignore, but can Nash’s confidence overcome Jed’s hesitance. Two men having experienced the ups and downs of relationships, both perhaps missing something in their lives that could potentially be something great if they are willing to risk being together. 

Foxed deals with difficult family interactions, public and personal expectations and fears, trying to live your truest life, and realizing it’s okay to make yourself a priority. Finding someone that can relate to you, feeling affection and closeness, the rush of lust and the sense of being important to another person is what a romance is about and Jay Hogan delivers. I really enjoyed all of the interactions between Jed and Nash, beginning with Nash pursuing Jed and finally when Jed is just as confident with his emotions as they fall in love.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sheena's Review:

Later in life Bisexual awakening, sweet MM romance

I LOVE older protagonists, so straight away I was really looking forward to this. It's also the story of someone coming to terms with his bisexuality later in life, and how his family deals with it. I liked both Nash and Jed, they're both very different but really work well together. I love how the topic of aging wasn't just glossed over, it is at the very heart of the story and it was so fun to see the two banter about all that comes with that, the teasing was so much fun.

I loved these two together, the list was such a great inspired idea and was so much fun, better for not really knowing what exactly was on it. I just didn't like Jed's family very much at all really, they were overbearing, interfering and completely selfish. It made that more realistic though as not every family is going to be perfect and at least at the end they made up for that slightly. I still got annoyed for Jed on more than one occasion though.

While I liked Nash and Jed and loved their HEA, it all felt a bit fast at the end, and some things a little unresolved (although a bonus epilogue went a little way towards fixing that).

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Heather's Review:

Foxed is such a refreshing read!  As someone who is silvering myself, it was beautiful to find a story featuring two men in their early fifties discovering love together.  It's proof you can teach old dogs new tricks, and that there are still things to learn about yourself even when you start to feel your age...

I really appreciated that both men were allowed to be their age and that we see their desire to be present, but that sometimes the body lets that down.. and that they can talk through their age and stage is a great read!

This book is not really a bi-awakening as much as a chance for Jed to finally realize and act on feelings he had in his youth.  I also love the way his family accepts and understands his bisexuality, even if the circumstances are a little bit strained at first...  

Note: Triggers for homophobic behaviour by a side character.

Rating: 5 Stars

Sarah C's Review:

It seems to be rare to find a book with MCs that are older than 40. Jay Hogan delivered us two MCs in their 50s, finding love together. And it was great and incredibly refreshing to see.

So let's dive in shall we?

First, I loved our MCs. Jed is a 55 year old divorced mechanic. He's a doting grandfather to his three year old granddaughter. He's also a closeted bisexual man, because he met his wife young and never had a need to act on it. This changes when he meets our second MC, Nash. Nash is a 53 year old principal who is a bit of a playboy and an avowed bachelor. He's the principal of the school that Jed's daughter works at and the two have an immediate attraction to each other - that we hear about because our story starts a few months later at a holiday party Jed's daughter is hosting. They already know one another and already have an attraction.

That does not mean that we're plopped in the middle of the story. Instead, we get what I found to be the most delightful part of the book - Jed's bi panic. Its not a bi-awakening, but it is the first time he's allowed himself to experience this. Allowed being a loose word, because he isn't sure he wants to upend his life this way. But Nash is persistant in his pursual and soon the two men start to get to know one another a lot better.

What I liked about this book is that Nash is always very clear in the fact that he's interested in Jed. Even when jed isn't sure why Nash would be interested in him, he's clear about it. He's also willing to back up if it makes Jed uncomfortable, which keeps him from being an overly pushy type of character that annoys me. He has just the right amount of push.

Another thing I like about this book is it doesn't shy away from the fact that these men are aging. They have grey hair. Their bodies don't do the same things that younger bodies do in terms of positions and all that with their hookups. They have saggy parts and wrinkles and a longer refactory period and its so refreshing to see this. Its also refreshing to watch Nash become more comfortable with his body as he exits the hook up scene and allows himself to embrace his aging body.

But as much as I loved so much of this book, I can't give it a full 4 stars. This is because there are parts of this book that DRAGGED or repeated quite a bit. This is also because a very large part of Nash's early plot - some disciplinary stuff at school - was never resolved. Not even a passing mention in the epilogue. I wanted to see how that played out. I wanted to see what happened - if anything - with the giant risk he took career wise. Instead, we got nothing in terms of resolution. It left me feeling unsettled and wrong footed. Some of the dragging parts could've been cut to give resolution to this major plot thing for Nash.

But all in all, I loved this book and would recommend it. I would also like to give a major warning for homophobia. There are fleeting bits throughout the series, but it comes to a major head near the end and that part? Definitely be wary if homophobic side characters are not your thing.  

Rating: 4 Stars

Janet's Review:

Foxed was simply put fantastic!! Finding love in your 50’s is something that we don’t get to read very much as readers and the author knocked it out of the ballpark!  I was riveted as soon as I picked up the story and couldn’t put it down. Nash and Jed were realistic and believable as a couple. They were charming and refreshingly honest and just plain sweet and romantic. 

Overall, a phenomenal read! Well written with addicting pacing that engaged me and didn’t let go until the last page was flipped. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Foxed is currently available in paperback and e-book formats and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Excerpt:

“Hello?” The tentative greeting was followed by a series of knocks on the open hangar door of the workshop.

I leaned forward in my seat but couldn’t quite see who it was.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

Shit. It couldn’t be. But the voice was familiar, too damn familiar, and a warmth curled low in my belly as my heart ticked up.

“Sit.” Rollo waved me down. “I’ll see to whoever it is.” He wiggled out of his chair and headed out into the workshop while I edged toward the door for a look, grateful for a little more time to get my shit together.

But when I saw Nash standing there in tight blue jeans and a black button-down, looking slightly nervous and way too fucking lickable, the warmth in my belly turned into an embarrassing flip. Rollo laughed at something Nash said, and the next thing I knew he was headed back to the office with Nash on his heels, the man’s curious gaze sweeping right and left. The closer they got to where I was standing, the more my stomach clenched.

 

What the hell was he doing here?

“You okay, Boss?” Jemma suddenly appeared next to me, and I realised my hands were fisted and sweating. “Do you know him?”

“Yes.” I rubbed my palms down the front of my coveralls and gave a half shrug. “A little.”

Jemma shot me a curious look but said nothing.

Rollo walked into the office and waved a hand my direction. “Here’s the man himself. Would you like a coffee, Nash?”

Nash stopped just inside the door with his back to the others and cast an apologetic half-smile my direction. “I don’t want to take up your time if you’re too busy. It’s your call, Jed.”

We both knew he wasn’t talking about the workshop, and with my overall sleeves tied around my waist and only a thin black practically not-there singlet standing between me and the man’s heated gaze, warmth flooded my cheeks. When he was done checking me out, his eyes returned to mine and his mouth curved up in an appreciative smile as he pointed to my cap bearing the slogan Ford Mustangs: Better than Sex. “Nice hat.”

And—oh my fucking god, I was getting hard.

“Boss?” Rollo was still waiting on my answer, which had been far too long coming. “Should I make Nash a coffee or not?”

“What? Oh, um . . .” I flustered. “No, I’ll do it. Maybe you guys could finish smoko outside?”

Rollo and Jemma exchanged a puzzled look, then grabbed their unfinished drinks and promptly left with Jemma casting a final what-the-fuck look over her shoulder. I answered with a shrug and swiftly closed the door, watching through the glass as they exploded into hushed conversation and headed for the outside table and chairs to finish their coffees. When I was sure they were out of earshot, I turned to Nash, who had his palms up, and immediately apologised.

“Jed, I’m so sorry if I’ve fucked up. The last thing I wanted was to make things awkward for you, I . . .” He trailed off, chuckling, and shaking his head. “Well, shit, that’s a damn lie. It was hardly going to be anything but awkward, was it? Crazy principal chases after his reluctant crush? Borderline stalking, at best. I think I just motored straight past undignified and crashed into abject humiliation. I have no excuse other than—” He hesitated, his gaze fixed on mine as he nibbled his bottom lip, before finally continuing. “I wanted to see you again. It’s as simple as that. And if that’s not okay, I’ll leave right now.” His words ran together, and he shook his head like he was angry with himself, his cheeks blazing, his gaze darting sideways to the window.

But I was stuck on reluctant crush. My heart stuttered in my chest as I tried to wrap my head around all of what he’d just said.

I still hadn’t answered when he finally groaned, “Can you just put me out of my misery? And I’ll be gone.”

And with those few simple words, all my noble good intentions to rise above the carnal temptation that Nash Collingwood embodied with fucking bells on flew out the window under jet-fuelled propulsion. Martyrdom clearly wasn’t what it used to be.

And also, he looked way too fucking cute standing there looking a whole lot less confident than usual. This was a Nash I could relate to.

I gave a slow blink and breathed out a sigh. “It’s . . . fine. I’m not sure what good you think it will do, but take a seat.” I headed for the espresso machine, feeling like a tongue-tied teenager. “How do you have your coffee?”

Grab your copy of Foxed today!

About Jay:

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year.

She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She's travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel

Find Jay in all the places:https://jayhoganauthor.contactin.bio/