Keeping it Casual by Jax Calder

What happens when you move out of the city with a plan to not get involved again only to be told about a handsome stranger over and over again? Every person in your town wants you to meet Jeremy King. Is Keeping it Casual possible?

From the blurb:

Dustin

I moved to Mineral Creek so I could focus on my son. After my recent breakup, small-town life is exactly what we need, and I’m determined to stay single.

But the town’s resident matchmakers have other ideas. Every second person I meet tries to set me up with Mineral Creek’s one other gay single Dad.

Jeremy. King.

I’ve heard those two words so many times since we moved here. I might explode if the name is uttered one more time.

But when I finally meet the man himself, any potential combustion will be due to the chemistry between us.

Jeremy

My Mineral Creek neighbors have looked out for me since my divorce and are now determined to set me up with the new guy in town.

I feel bad that everyone is hounding Dustin to ask me out. I want to get them off his back. Enter my brilliant idea: the fake date.

Convincing the Mineral Creek matchmakers that we’re not compatible would be much easier if we’d kept to our script of uncomfortable silence instead of talking for so long that the restaurant kicked us out when they closed.

But nothing changes the fact that Dustin doesn’t want a boyfriend, and I’m not able to offer my heart to anyone anyway.

We can keep things casual between us, right?

This light-hearted, low-angst 36,000 word MM romantic novella is full of fun banter, steamy times and sweet times between two adorable guys who are desperately trying to pretend they are not falling in love.

Lori C's Review:

Two single dads. One with a young daughter who was raised in small town Mineral Creek his entire life. One with a teenage son coming from a city in hopes of rebuilding their relationship. Only the entire town wants Dustin to go out with hometown boy Jeremy. It’s a bit of pressure for Dustin at first and then it becomes something easy, something that is comfortable like your favorite sweater or talking to your best friend. He may not have been ready for love, but is keeping it casual what he really wants? 

For my first Jax Calder novella, I couldn’t ask for more. The story is paced really quickly and smoothly. It truly is light and fluffy as there were only a few parts where I thought oh no! I really enjoyed the way her characters balanced each other. Jeremy seemed strong while Dustin seemed so vulnerable even though story wise, the opposite seemed more true. One of my favorite parts of the book was the reenacted scene from Tangled. I have to say I’m glad I’m not the only one that found that scene beautiful! Overall, Keeping It Casual made me happy and excited to read more of Jax Calder’s books.

Rating: 5 Stars

SNik's Review:

Standalone novella. Small town. Single dads. Dual POV. 

Dustin isn’t really sure why the entire town of Mineral Creek wants him to date Jeremy King but his sole focus is his son and he’s not interested in a relationship. When Jeremy suggests a fake date and then they fall into a friends with benefits arrangement, neither man realizes it is a sure fire way for them to fall in love because they certainly do like each other more than expected. 

A really sweet and spicy story with likable characters that can’t keep their hands off each other, nice kids, and meddling town members. 

The emotions and feelings are well written and romantic for two deserving men that find their person and get their HEA, just as the town residents had hoped.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sheena's Review: 

I've become a real fan of Jax Calder's writing. I loved the rugby series so I was keen to read this when I got the opportunity. I wasn't disappointed. This is a novella, so due to the very nature of that, it all happens quickly for Jeremy and Dustin. Sometimes I'm not a fan of fast, but here it worked so well for these two. There were plenty of laughs and I loved, loved, loved Jeremy's snark and sense of humor.

The chemistry between the two jumped off the page, and you could almost feel the heat there. It's funny too, as the whole town is trying to play matchmaker for Jeremy and it seems conspiring to push the two together. They're both a little oblivious to what's actually happening, and that's fun to witness, too. Add in two very different children and that's the winning recipe for a fun, light, hot and sweet romcom with the swooniest declaration (I, too, love Tangled so very much).

This was an utter delight.

Rating: 4 Stars

Heather's Review:

Keeping It Casual is a sweet, low angst novella with good steam.  It brings together new neighbours, Dustin and Jeremy, who the whole town seems to be rooting for... in a casual relationship that you know won't stay that way.  

This was a great, quick read with good pacing, good humour and lovely characters who deserve a HEA!

Rating: 5 Stars

Keeping it Casual is available to buy as an ebook, paperback, or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.