Bond Strength, Brannon Boys book 2, is a second chance, former friends to lovers with a nuerospicy character that will steal your heart and make you believe even someone "quirky" can find love. It's so beautifully done, you will lose time as you fall deep in love with Declan and Noah. I love the Brannon Boys!! The entire family is such a wild bunch and they love hard.
From the blurb:
Declan
I can’t stand Noah Langston. Ever since my former best friend and I drifted in high school, I’ve kept my distance. I’m content sticking to my cycle—the day job, my inventions, and a string of failed dates. Well, maybe not content, but my routine is adequate. Yet recently, Noah’s appearing everywhere. At the same bars, parties, and the latest…to repair my house.
Noah
There’s only one man I’ve ever wanted more with, and he wants nothing to do with me. Even if he did though, he’s straight, and I’m tugged in so many directions I’m splitting at the seams. While I don’t know what caused the rift between me and Declan, when I get assigned on a masonry job at his house, I’m not passing up the chance to get back in his life—however I can.
And when one monster of a storm leaves me stranded at Declan’s house, I discover irrevocable truths. One: Declan never realized I was flirting all these years. Two: Declan’s not as straight as he thought. When those truths come to light, the potential that emerges could either change my life or completely destroy me.
Molly Otto's review:
Let's just say I already know the number of times I'll be reading this book will be ridiculous. Katherine has done something that so few authors do she has a nuerospicy character that I get and understand and feel like, well, me.
Declan & Noah were best friends until high school got in the way, and they didn't know how to communicate right. Twelve years later and a storm forces these two to talk and see the truth. From the moment they know it's done, these two were made for each other. Declan says what is on his mind, so no worries of miscommunication. Whereas Noah understands it's not to be harsh, just factual.
If you have read any of Katherine's previous works, you know some sort of kink will be included, and oh boy, does she deliver. She shows how restraints can calm a chaotic mind and, being at the mercy of your partner, can be freeing. Seriously, though the heat simmers off the page, it's that well done. Can honestly say this was my favorite book to date from her just because I got the characters and understood how they worked and how finding that person just clicks, and you can just be free.
Lori C's review:
Declan is a hard worker, he’s super smart, and he doesn’t always get social niceties. His brothers and sister love him anyway, so do his parents. Now he is coming around to the fact that his dates don’t seem to work and he wonders if he will be alone forever.
Noah Langston is Declan’s former best friend. Tight as can be until high school when separate interests led them in different directions. One thing Declan doesn’t know is that Noah has BIG feelings for him, his straight former best friend.
This story means a lot right now to a lot of people. Declan is an autistic character when misunderstandings about autism lead the news. I found his portrayal quite true to life. His character cuts to the chase and helped Noah in so many different ways. His family’s reaction to their relationship was the absolute love that we need in this world. I loved this book so much. Author Katherine McIntyre writes such wonderful contemporary love stories. Her characters are shining examples of the light we have in the world.
I love childhood friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and neurospicy characters, so this book was a triple-hit for me. Declan and Noah were perfect individually and together.
Somehow I missed the first book in this series, so I can safely say that this one can be read as a standalone. I loved this one and the author's writing style so much, I will absolutely be going back to read book one.
Declan and Noah were best friends in childhood but drifted apart in high school. Declan is autistic, and the author did a fantastic job in her genuine portrayal of Dec's neurospiciness. Noah is a people pleaser whose inability to say no pulled him away from Declan, despite pining for his friend since he first new what attraction was. As misguided teen boys are wont to do, Noah went about trying to show Declan his crush in all the wrong ways, which only further pushed Declan away.
As adults, Declan holds a bit of a grudge because he doesn't really understand what pulled Noah away or why his behavior toward him changed. When they're forced together by a storm, they finally have a chance to lay it all out there and get their acts together. And boy do they. Once they start communicating, they're off like a rocket and they realize that despite the years apart, they are still the ones who know each other best and love each other exactly as they are.
They each have some growth to do, but they support each other through it. Their relationship is rock solid and the story is overall low angst. I loved reading their love story and all the side characters are fantastic. Declan has a big beautiful family and I can't wait to see what his siblings get up to next.
Angel's review:
Declan and Noah are so precious together! As always Kat's writing is fantastic, if you're looking for a low-angst story full of romance and terrific characters, then I highly recommend not only this book, but this series as well.
Declan has had trouble finding someone who accepts all of him, no one understands him or the way he is. The only person who ever understood left him behind years ago, or so he thought.
Noah has had a crush on Declan since they were teenagers but due to his uncomfortability with saying no, him being so social with others pulled him away from Declan. Besides, Declan's straight, right?
I love these two so much! I adored how they simultaneously support each other and compliment one another, but yet they also challenge each other to try new things, and do the things that scared them. I think their relationship is so beautiful and heartwarming. The way Declan had his bi-awakening is absolutely fabulous, he didn't freak out of have a crisis,(which would be fine if he did!) rather he calmly and casually accepted the fact he was attracted to and liked Noah.
The ending is probably my favorite part, I don't want to spoil too much but let's just say... Declan surprised Noah with an extra member of their family unit!! This is a fantastic story and I am so excited to see Rory meet his partner!
Heather's review:
If you need a book with characters you'll instantly and irrevocably fall for, you need to read Bond Strength! Dec's neurospicy autism leaves him less able to read the flirtatious signs that Noah has been throwing out over the years and it takes a little forced proximity to bring things to light!
I love the heartfelt portrayal of both characters and the way Kat blends her usual steam and kink with these characters to create a sweet and honest romance with a bondage twist! This low angst read gives grown up Noah and Dec a chance to view their childhood friendship and teen age frenemies experience with new, fresh eyes and hope!
I also love all the side characters and can't wait to see how the rest of the Brannon Boys fall in love!
Bond Strength is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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